Aviva Health Awarded More Than $5 Million for Dental Workforce and Health Record Projects

ROSEBURG, Ore. - Aviva Health has been awarded more than $5 million to expand Douglas County’s dental workforce and improve how local healthcare providers share patient information.

The Oregon Health Authority awarded Aviva Health a combined $5,036,238.35 through its Rural Health Transformation Program Catalyst Awards.

Aviva Health received funding for two separate projects, making it one of only a small number of organizations statewide to receive multiple Catalyst Awards. The combined funding is the fifth-largest allocation in Oregon and the largest awarded to a Douglas County organization through the program.

“This investment represents an extraordinary opportunity for Aviva Health and Douglas County,” Aviva Health Marketing and Development Director Mark Tsuchiya said. “These projects address two of the greatest challenges facing rural healthcare today: developing the workforce our communities need and ensuring providers can seamlessly share information to deliver coordinated, high-quality care.”

Growing Douglas County’s Dental Workforce

One portion of the funding will support Aviva Health’s Grow Your Own Dental Workforce Initiative.

The project is designed to address the shortage of dental professionals in rural Oregon by creating additional opportunities for local students and future providers to receive training in Douglas County.

Plans include:

• Adding new dental operatories in Roseburg and Myrtle Creek
• Expanding clinical training capacity
• Creating education and career pathways with academic institutions across Oregon
• Increasing student clinical rotations, mentorships and preceptorships
• Supporting advanced certifications for dental assistants
• Encouraging students to train, live and eventually practice in rural communities

Aviva Health said the initiative will help develop a local pipeline of dental professionals while increasing access to dental services for patients.

Transition to OCHIN Epic

The second project will fund Aviva Health’s transition to the OCHIN Epic electronic health record system.

The platform is already used by other healthcare organizations in Douglas County and by Federally Qualified Health Centers throughout Oregon.

Moving to the shared platform is expected to improve communication between healthcare providers and give clinicians more timely access to patient information.

The transition is intended to:

• Improve coordination between healthcare organizations
• Streamline patient referrals
• Strengthen secure information sharing
• Connect primary care, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and specialty services
• Provide patients with a more coordinated healthcare experience

Aviva Health said the new system will make it easier for providers to work together while reducing gaps in care.

Statewide Competition for Funding

The Catalyst Awards were highly competitive.

The Oregon Health Authority received 583 proposals from 353 organizations seeking more than $830 million. Approximately $160 million was available, representing less than 20% of the total amount requested.

The Rural Health Transformation Program supports community-based projects intended to improve health outcomes, increase access to care and strengthen healthcare systems in rural parts of Oregon.

“Our success reflects the strength of our partnerships and our shared commitment to improving health in Douglas County,” Tsuchiya said. “These projects will create lasting benefits by expanding educational opportunities, strengthening our local workforce and ensuring patients receive more coordinated, connected care close to home.”

Aviva Health is a nonprofit healthcare organization founded in 1991. It provides medical, dental and behavioral health services through 11 clinic sites in Roseburg, Myrtle Creek, Sutherlin, Glide and Drain, along with a Teen Health Center at Roseburg High School.