By Julie Johansen
Emery County Business Chamber’s (ECBC) May Lunch and Learn met at Ferron City Hall on Wednesday, May 15, at noon. The guest were welcomed by Chamber President Darcy Powell. She also introduced the guest speakers, Michael Clark, FNP-C at Castleview Hospital, April Johnson Clinical Care Bridge Coordinator, Nicole Steele, Director of Workforce Services and her associate Misty Mower. The lunch was catered by Main Street Market of Ferron.
Clark spoke to the group about opioid use disorders and the University of Utah outpatient recovery program available at the outpatient clinic at the Hospital complex. He stated that the Bridge program was a pilot program, being the first in the country, started here in this rural area.
April Johnson explained that the Bridge program has an Evergreen inpatient detox services available in five or seven day programs. These services were funded by grants, and even though the grants have ended, the services remain. Their help begins in the Emergency Room at the hospital with withdrawal medicine and then helps to find other area/programs for patients.
Nicole Steele from the Workforce Services office in Price spoke about the bonding services available to employers when working with recovery employees. She recommended that employers take advantage of these services. She also remarked that the labor market in Emery County was great, with many jobs available.
The announcement was made that these lunch and learns are once a month on the third Wednesday at various municipalities in Emery County. June’s meeting is a tour of Conductive Composites.
