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OUR INITIATIVES
The new Nehalem Bay Health Center and Pharmacy
Renovate and Modernize the Nehalem Valley Care Center
Workforce Housing
On October 4, 2025 the Health District will formally dedicate a new 16,000 square foot Health Center and Pharmacy in Wheeler, Oregon.
The facility has been designed and constructed to meet the needs of our growing and aging population, and will include a dental suite, x-ray and behavioral health services.
The new facility will be operated by the non-profit Nehalem Bay Health Center & Pharmacy which has provided healthcare services at its current location on the District’s Upper Campus for 40 years.
The Care Center is a state-licensed 50-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Wheeler, operated by Canyon Wren Consulting under a management agreement with the Health District.
The Care Center is the only skilled nursing and long-term care facility between Astoria and Newport. A vital community asset, the facility needs updating and modernization. Substantial work has been done on building infrastructure and planning continues on renovation of patient rooms, common areas and staff workspaces.
The District’s upper campus includes the Care Center, the Health Center & Pharmacy (the former Rinehart Clinic), and the decaying former hospital.
Demolition of the former hospital plus relocation of the Health Center to the lower campus creates the opportunity to re-purpose property for workforce housing. The District plans to undertake environmental remediation of the old hospital in late 2025, a necessary step to preparing for demolition.
The District believes creating housing alternatives for health care and other essential workers close to the Care Center and Health Center is critical to attracting, retaining and growing staff and services.
District Awarded Statewide Recognition
INITIATIVES
INITIATIVES
Addressing Community Priorities
The District board is diligently working to address concurrently three critical areas of health service delivery: Build a new state-of-the-art health center and pharmacy building; Renovate and modernize the long-term skilled nursing facility; Plan for and construct workforce housing.