March 2, 2012 -- Former Marion County Circuit Court Judge Pamela L. Abernethy, a mediation and arbitration expert, will assist Mid-Valley health care stakeholders through the process of creating a Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) for the Mid-Valley region.
For nearly a year, health care professionals and community leaders in the Mid-Valley have been meeting to explore the formation of a CCO to better serve the medical needs of citizens in the region under the newly passed transformation legislation expected to be signed by the Governor. The group has expanded in size to touch a wide array of community based organizations which provide health care and social services to our most vulnerable citizens.
Judge Abernethy is currently an attorney with the law firm of Harrang Long Gary Rudnick P.C., and will serve as facilitator leading the group through the critical stages of CCO organizational formation.
“Judge Pamela Abernethy has incredible expertise and practical skills to assist a large diverse group of health care stakeholders collaborate and find consensus,” said Jan Buffa, PhD and chief executive officer of WVP Health Authority, which represents the 530 independent physicians practicing in Marion and Polk counties. “We are extremely pleased to have someone of her caliber serve as facilitator.”
Before joining the firm of Harrang Long Gary Rudnick P.C., Abernethy spent 18 years on the Marion County bench and 12 years as a civil litigator for the Oregon Department of Justice where she held various senior management positions, including Special Counsel to the Attorney General, Chief Counsel and Administrator for the Civil Enforcement Division, and founding attorney in charge of the Special Litigation Unit.
“Judge Abernethy has an incredible background that will serve us well as she guides us through this process,” said Craig Pope, Polk County Commissioner.
Her expertise includes all areas of the law, including: business and tort litigation; transaction disputes; professional liability actions; employment and labor matters; personal injury claims and family matters.
Abernethy is a member of the Oregon State Bar and admitted to practice before all state courts in Oregon and the U.S. District Court for the State of Oregon. She earned her J.D. from Willamette University, College of Law where she graduated cum laude and won the First Year Moot Court competition. A recipient of numerous honors and awards over the years, Judge Abernethy completed a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
“There are many stakeholders at the table, each with a unique perspective and varying levels of capabilities. Pamela is someone who has tremendous respect and will help us arrive at a successful outcome,” Commissioner Pope said.
The community organizations involved in CCO discussions for the Mid-Valley include: Polk County Health & Human Services; Marion County Health Department; Mid-Valley Behavioral Care Network; Silverton Health; the two community-based federally qualified health clinics; Salem Clinic; Capitol Dental Care; Service Employees International Union; Long Term Care Partner Facilities, Family Building Blocks; Santiam Memorial Hospital; Salem & West Valley Health; and 457 physicians in the community who have signed a Memo of Understanding (MOU) to be part of the Marion/Polk counties CCO via WVP Health Authority. In addition to Commissioner Pope, other community leaders involved directly and indirectly include: State Representative Jim Thompson, Marion County Commissioners Janet Carlson and Patti Milne; Sue Miller of Family Building Blocks, and Dick Withnell of Withnell Motors.
