2021
April 2021
RCMS Hosting COVID-19 Community Vaccination Clinic 5/8
Free COVID-19 Testing in Point Arena April 30
COVID-19 Community Vaccination Clinic on April 10
Free COVID-19 Testing Event in Gualala on April 16
RCMS Hosting COVID-19 Community Vaccination Clinic 5/8
Free COVID-19 Testing in Point Arena April 30
COVID-19 Community Vaccination Clinic on April 10
Free COVID-19 Testing Event in Gualala on April 16
2020
Results From COVID-19 Targeted Screening
RCMS has received the results of the targeted COVID-19 testing that we performed last week in coordination with Mendocino county Public Health Department. All test results came back negative. We sincerely appreciate the participants, the volunteers, and our staff for their involvement in this important activity for our community. Please continue to follow the guidelines given out by Public Health Departments and stay safe and healthy.
RCMS has received the results of the targeted COVID-19 testing that we performed last week in coordination with Mendocino county Public Health Department. All test results came back negative. We sincerely appreciate the participants, the volunteers, and our staff for their involvement in this important activity for our community. Please continue to follow the guidelines given out by Public Health Departments and stay safe and healthy.
RCMS Community Update – April 30, 2020
A Message from RCMS on our Procedures to
Keep you Safe During Your Visit to Our Clinics
We would like to reassure our community that we are taking all necessary steps to make sure that our providers, staff and patients are protected during medical visits.
Please remember, medical visits are considered “essential business” under the shelter in place orders. Don’t delay if you need day-to-day or emergent medical care. Our sites in Gualala and Point Arena are open.
We are here for you. Call before you come at (707) 884-4005.
What you need to know:
RCMS is following all guidelines and orders from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), State Health Department and Mendocino County Public Health.
RCMS team members are consistently being updated by Mendocino County Public Health. The staff is briefed every morning about any changes from the day before as to new protocols and any new or expanded orders from County Public Health Officer.
All providers, staff and volunteers take temperatures at the beginning of their shifts and before leaving work for the day. If they are not feeling well or have an elevated temperature, they are evaluated in our Urgent Care. Any staff person with symptoms of respiratory illness is tested for COVID19 and sent home to self-isolate until their test results return; they are also required to remain at home for 72 hours after their symptoms have resolved – following recommendations of the CDC and Health Department.
All of our providers and clinical staff wear masks in all areas of the clinic and the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when seeing patients. All staff members wash their hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer, prior to any patient encounter. If you did not notice your care provider washing their hands prior to your visit, please feel free to ask them to do so.
RCMS is working to reduce risk of exposure to patients with respiratory illness by maintaining two “non-respiratory clinics”, one at the Sea Watch building (across from the main Gualala clinic) and the other in Point Arena. At these locations we do not admit any patients with fever, cough or cold symptoms. Patients temperatures are checked before entering these facilities and patients are required to wear facial coverings. We try to move patients directly into examination rooms instead of having them wait in the waiting room. We also give patients the option of waiting in their cars until an exam room has opened up. If patients sit in waiting rooms, they are asked to maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing and are required to wear cloth masks. Patients with cough/cold/fever symptoms are directed into exam rooms and do not sit with others in waiting rooms.
If you have any questions on our safety protocols or need additional information, please call (707) 884-4005. We are proud of our entire RCMS team for their flexibility and effort during these unique times.
Primary Care and Urgent Care are Open
PLEASE CALL BEFORE YOU COME (707) 884-4005
A Message from RCMS on our Procedures to
Keep you Safe During Your Visit to Our Clinics
We would like to reassure our community that we are taking all necessary steps to make sure that our providers, staff and patients are protected during medical visits.
Please remember, medical visits are considered “essential business” under the shelter in place orders. Don’t delay if you need day-to-day or emergent medical care. Our sites in Gualala and Point Arena are open.
We are here for you. Call before you come at (707) 884-4005.
What you need to know:
RCMS is following all guidelines and orders from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), State Health Department and Mendocino County Public Health.
RCMS team members are consistently being updated by Mendocino County Public Health. The staff is briefed every morning about any changes from the day before as to new protocols and any new or expanded orders from County Public Health Officer.
All providers, staff and volunteers take temperatures at the beginning of their shifts and before leaving work for the day. If they are not feeling well or have an elevated temperature, they are evaluated in our Urgent Care. Any staff person with symptoms of respiratory illness is tested for COVID19 and sent home to self-isolate until their test results return; they are also required to remain at home for 72 hours after their symptoms have resolved – following recommendations of the CDC and Health Department.
All of our providers and clinical staff wear masks in all areas of the clinic and the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when seeing patients. All staff members wash their hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer, prior to any patient encounter. If you did not notice your care provider washing their hands prior to your visit, please feel free to ask them to do so.
RCMS is working to reduce risk of exposure to patients with respiratory illness by maintaining two “non-respiratory clinics”, one at the Sea Watch building (across from the main Gualala clinic) and the other in Point Arena. At these locations we do not admit any patients with fever, cough or cold symptoms. Patients temperatures are checked before entering these facilities and patients are required to wear facial coverings. We try to move patients directly into examination rooms instead of having them wait in the waiting room. We also give patients the option of waiting in their cars until an exam room has opened up. If patients sit in waiting rooms, they are asked to maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing and are required to wear cloth masks. Patients with cough/cold/fever symptoms are directed into exam rooms and do not sit with others in waiting rooms.
- The triage tent outside of the main clinic is for intake and temperature checks. The Gualala Clinic is now divided into non-respiratory complaints/symptom patients and upper respiratory symptom patients. After initial intake, patients are guided by staff to the appropriate area of the clinic.
- Rooms are sanitized between patients just like they have been in the past.
- RCMS recently had ventilation upgrades in all exam rooms used for respiratory patients. Mobile HEPA filtration devices are also available.
- When patients call in for appointment, they are offered a choice for face-to-face or the opportunity to have their appointment by video call or telephone call, if appropriate for their situation. All of our medical providers are offering telephone visits and some are offering video conference calls.
- All patients, and those accompanying them, have their temperature taken before entering any of the clinic sites. Patients with fever are only allowed into the Gualala clinic, and only into areas designated for patients with fevers. They are not allowed to sit in waiting rooms with other patients.
- All patients, and those accompanying them, are required to wear a fabric facial covering before entering any of the clinic sites If they arrive in without one, they are given one. Patients with respiratory complaints are only allowed to be accompanied by one family member; family members may be asked to wait outside or in a vehicle to avoid exposure to the patient in a closed space.
- Recommended physical distancing is still maintained in any waiting areas. If the patient load becomes too congested for the waiting room, patients will be directed to return to their car and wait to be escorted in.
- Laboratory blood draws are still being done at RCMS, including in the “non-respiratory” clinics (Sea Watch and Point Arena) by appointment only, including orders from outside providers. Please call (707) 884-4005 for appointment scheduling and additional requirements.
If you have any questions on our safety protocols or need additional information, please call (707) 884-4005. We are proud of our entire RCMS team for their flexibility and effort during these unique times.
Primary Care and Urgent Care are Open
PLEASE CALL BEFORE YOU COME (707) 884-4005
COVID-19 Targeted Screening Test Update - Click the link to read the update on our news page. Posted 4/30/20
RCMS Community Update – April 15, 2020
Primary Care and Urgent Care are Open
PLEASE CALL BEFORE YOU COME (707) 884-4005
COVID-19 Preparations at the Clinic
RCMS continues to prepare for a potential surge in patients related to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Our main Gualala Clinic has been divided into respiratory and non-respiratory illness sections. We continue to see all urgent medical issues — respiratory and non-respiratory.
Sea Watch in Gualala (across from main clinic) and the RCMS Point Arena Medical Clinic are open for Primary Care for patients without infectious respiratory symptoms. We have providers available for well child visits and vaccinations (important not to get behind), lab/blood draws ordered by your primary care provider or outside provider, prescriptions and refills, and chronic and other health care maintenance issues. Please call us at (707) 884-4005 to schedule your appointment.
During this time of uncertainty, please remember to take care of yourself. We are here for you.
Telehealth Visits Available
Your health is important us! If you unable to come to one of our clinics in person, consider a telehealth visit. A provider can call you at home and/or connect with you on a video platform (requires a smart phone with a camera or a computer) and address your medical concerns. Please call us at (707) 884-4005 to schedule your telehealth appointment.
Reminder: Wear Face Coverings in Public
The Sonoma County Health Officer issued a Health Order on April 13, 2020 that requires members of the public to wear facial coverings. The Health Order will go into effect 12:01 a.m. on April 17, 2020.
Per the Health Order: All persons in Sonoma County shall wear facial coverings in the following situations:
Face coverings, when worn by someone with COVID-19, even if they don’t have symptoms, may reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others. Since not everyone with COVID-19 knows that they are sick, wearing a face covering helps make sure that you are not unknowingly affecting others. If worn by everyone when outside the home doing essential activities, this can help slow the overall spread of the virus and keep our community safer.
The Mendocino County Health Officer issued guidance on face coverings on April 3, 2020 which recommended everyone who leaves their home for essential activity wear a face covering.
Be Counted in the 2020 Census
Census results help determine future funding for many of the critical healthcare and emergency services being used today. It is easy to respond to the 2020 Census on your own, whether online, over the phone or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker. Help shape our future. Respond Now! My2020census.gov.
Primary Care and Urgent Care are Open
PLEASE CALL BEFORE YOU COME (707) 884-4005
COVID-19 Preparations at the Clinic
RCMS continues to prepare for a potential surge in patients related to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Our main Gualala Clinic has been divided into respiratory and non-respiratory illness sections. We continue to see all urgent medical issues — respiratory and non-respiratory.
Sea Watch in Gualala (across from main clinic) and the RCMS Point Arena Medical Clinic are open for Primary Care for patients without infectious respiratory symptoms. We have providers available for well child visits and vaccinations (important not to get behind), lab/blood draws ordered by your primary care provider or outside provider, prescriptions and refills, and chronic and other health care maintenance issues. Please call us at (707) 884-4005 to schedule your appointment.
During this time of uncertainty, please remember to take care of yourself. We are here for you.
Telehealth Visits Available
Your health is important us! If you unable to come to one of our clinics in person, consider a telehealth visit. A provider can call you at home and/or connect with you on a video platform (requires a smart phone with a camera or a computer) and address your medical concerns. Please call us at (707) 884-4005 to schedule your telehealth appointment.
Reminder: Wear Face Coverings in Public
The Sonoma County Health Officer issued a Health Order on April 13, 2020 that requires members of the public to wear facial coverings. The Health Order will go into effect 12:01 a.m. on April 17, 2020.
Per the Health Order: All persons in Sonoma County shall wear facial coverings in the following situations:
- Before they enter any indoor facility besides their residence. Examples: grocery stores, laundromats/dry cleaners, work facilities, post office, etc.
- In any enclosed open space. Examples: outdoor work sites, construction sites, taxis/rideshares, or buses.
- When outdoors if the person is unable to maintain a six-foot distance from another person at all times. Examples: Farmer’s market, pumping gas, drive thru/delivery/carry out/curbside pickup, etc.
Face coverings, when worn by someone with COVID-19, even if they don’t have symptoms, may reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others. Since not everyone with COVID-19 knows that they are sick, wearing a face covering helps make sure that you are not unknowingly affecting others. If worn by everyone when outside the home doing essential activities, this can help slow the overall spread of the virus and keep our community safer.
The Mendocino County Health Officer issued guidance on face coverings on April 3, 2020 which recommended everyone who leaves their home for essential activity wear a face covering.
Be Counted in the 2020 Census
Census results help determine future funding for many of the critical healthcare and emergency services being used today. It is easy to respond to the 2020 Census on your own, whether online, over the phone or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker. Help shape our future. Respond Now! My2020census.gov.
RCMS Community Update – April 6, 2020
PLEASE CALL BEFORE YOU COME (707-884-4005) for Urgent or Primary Care
While we hope it does not happen, we at Redwood Coast Medical Services (RCMS), in conjunction with the Mendocino County Health Department and other emergency responders, continue to remain vigilant and prepared for COVID-19 related patient surge. We will keep the community updated as needed.
Masks in Public: Per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Mendocino County Health Department, it is now recommended that all persons cover their face while in public, with a mask, bandana, scarf or other type of cloth barrier. This will help reduce risk of spreading infection via droplets to other people. Please continue to preserve N95 masks – which are in short supply – for first responders and health care providers.
Medical and Non-Medical Volunteers Needed: If you are a current or former health care professional, or you are interested in helping your community during this COVID19 pandemic, please add your name to our Medical and Non-Medical Volunteer list on the RCMS webpage at: https://www.rcms-healthcare.org/medical-volunteers.html We will contact you if we could use your help.
PLEASE CALL BEFORE YOU COME (707-884-4005) for Urgent or Primary Care
While we hope it does not happen, we at Redwood Coast Medical Services (RCMS), in conjunction with the Mendocino County Health Department and other emergency responders, continue to remain vigilant and prepared for COVID-19 related patient surge. We will keep the community updated as needed.
Masks in Public: Per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Mendocino County Health Department, it is now recommended that all persons cover their face while in public, with a mask, bandana, scarf or other type of cloth barrier. This will help reduce risk of spreading infection via droplets to other people. Please continue to preserve N95 masks – which are in short supply – for first responders and health care providers.
Medical and Non-Medical Volunteers Needed: If you are a current or former health care professional, or you are interested in helping your community during this COVID19 pandemic, please add your name to our Medical and Non-Medical Volunteer list on the RCMS webpage at: https://www.rcms-healthcare.org/medical-volunteers.html We will contact you if we could use your help.
