The Drive
It is a two day drive from Grand Junction to Portland Oregon and my assignment is in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) in Woodburn Oregon, located about 30 minutes away from Portland.
On my way to Oregon, I usually have a stop over somewhere between Twin Falls and Boise. This time I stayed in a Super 8 in Heyburn Id. I relax in a sweet little restaurant overlooking the Snake River.
Once I am in Portland (if I make it – by buying gas where I stay for the night – there is basically nothing until Baker City). I base myself at my friends home and search for short term rentals. I have a week to find a suitable home for the next three months, while my own home in Grand Junction is assigned to my renters and good girlfriends.
I commit to a short term rental in Woodburn OR., just a few blocks from the facility where I will be working. The price is more than I expect to pay, but the location is perfect from me. Woodburn is about 50% Hispanic and has a large Russian Orthodox population. That took some research. Mama’s Russian Food has selections of piroshkis (meat pie), fresh borscht, blini (crepes), galoopsi (cabbage rolls), sweet breads, baklava and kvass (a fermented drink from beet).
Bauman Farm has a large selection of farm veges and fruit as well as home made jams and sauces. Hazelnuts are a large industry here.
I live Monday – Friday in rural America again, where food comes from, immigrant workers – rich soil and water. Everyone who does not farm here drives either to Salem or Portland but we are all dependent on the bounty of this land. Luckily for me I can walk to work if I need to, and due to a faulty battery I almost had to. It took some phone calls and a very savvy tow truck driver to solve my problem.
90% productivity means I get 6 minutes per hour to document OT skilled service description that will be the basis of my defense if my therapy ever comes under the scrutiny of the reimbursement sources or God forbid, some therapy accident.
I figure out the new documentation system on my own, fight for my time on the laptop I share with the poor speech therapist that arrives later in the day (so I get first dibs), and learn all about point of service documentation – more about that later. I meet new people and figure out where to find adaptive equipment in a small compact crowded closet with wheelchair and walkers, that is littered with approximately 50-75 wheelchair footrests and an OT assistant who is loudly indignant that I don’t know anything – at all. I sleep so well at night.
