Local
resident fills important post
Merle
Gauthier has been dedicated to helping others for decades, serving as a
registered nurse for forty-one years, the last twenty-one at Oregon Heath
Sciences University. Now that she
has retired, she has continued to work on behalf of others.
Gauthier volunteered with the American Cancer Society, visiting patients
in the hospital, and then continuing to visit them after they are discharged.
In addition to this, Gauthier has just been appointed to serve as the
Certified Ombudsman for Reedwood Extended Care Center.
She will be an advocate for the residents of Reedwood, ensuring that they
get the best possible care by identifying, investigating, and resolving problems
on behalf of the residents.
Ombudsmen
help the public with complaints and concerns about city agencies.
They work to safeguard the right of the public when dealing with city
agencies. They also attempt to
encourage higher standards of competence, efficiency and justice within city
offices, especially when providing City of Portland services to private
citizens. Based on your complaint,
the Ombudsman will perform an independent investigation of the administration,
and recommend appropriate changes. These important folks work to resolve conflicts between the
public and City-run services in a fair, timely manner.
All Ombudsman services are provided free of charge and can be kept
confidential at your request. For more information about Ombudsman, please call
503-823-0144, or visit www.ci.portland.or.us/auditor/ombudsman.