April 2026 Community Update

Happy spring! We’re excited to share the latest updates from across BMHD. 

New Chief Medical Officer and Chief of Staff 

We’re pleased to announce that Dr. Robert Yee has been selected as BMHD’s inaugural Chief Medical Officer. After first joining us on a locum assignment, Dr. Yee chose to make BMHD his long-term home, bringing more than 25 years of experience in family medicine. He will work full-time in our Clinic, serve as our Hospice Medical Director, and continue caring for residents at the Care Center. In his role as CMO, he will help oversee clinic operations, support our providers, and work closely with leadership to guide care across the organization. 

In addition, Dr. Margart, a longtime provider in our community and a trusted leader in our Emergency Department, has been selected as our new Chief of Staff. 

In this role, he’ll help guide how our medical staff works together and continue to support the high-quality care across the organization. His expertise in rural healthcare and strong relationships across BMHD make him a great fit for the role. 

Expanding Stroke Services with New Partnership 

BMHD is expanding access to specialized stroke care through a new partnership with St. Alphonsus Health System. This partnership will bring Tele-stroke capabilities to our Emergency Department, providing 24/7 access to stroke specialists. 

This means patients experiencing stroke symptoms can be evaluated in real time by specialists while remaining in John Day, to help them receive the best care and, in some cases, avoid the need for transfer. 

EMT Training in John Day 

Our latest EMT class recently completed their training, marking an important milestone in their journey toward serving our community! Each student will now take the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) exam before applying for their Oregon EMT license. 

We’re proud of the hard work and commitment these students have shown and grateful to Rebekah Rand for teaching this class. 

Next up is our Advanced EMT (AEMT) course, beginning later this spring in partnership with Blue Mountain Community College, with additional courses planned later this year. These efforts help us continue growing local training opportunities across our community and strength our healthcare workforce.  

BMHD Welcomes Two Returning OHSU residents 

This spring, we’re excited to welcome back two Family Medicine residents for additional hands-on training: 

• Will Schmidt, focusing on rural medicine  

• Andrea Gataric, focusing on rural emergency care  

Both completed previous rotations with BMHD. Opportunities like this not only support the next generation of providers but also highlight the kind of learning environment and community we’re proud to offer here at BMHD. 

Patient Experience Surveys 

This year, BMHD partnered with Press Ganey, a nationally recognized third-party organization, to better evaluate patient experience across our clinics and departments. This allows us to gather consistent, anonymous feedback and use it to improve care over time. 

Early responses show BMHD is performing well in areas that matter most, such as clear communication, compassionate care and coordination between providers.  

This kind of feedback helps us stay accountable and ensures we’re delivering the level of care our community expects and deserves. 

New Donated Library at the Care Center 

We’re excited to share the opening of a newly donated library at the Care Center. 

This space will provide families and staff with access to books and a welcoming place to relax. It’s a meaningful addition that helps make the Care Center feel even more like home. 

We look forward to sharing more photos on our Facebook page! 

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