Meet Katie Brandt, FNP-C
Katie brings experience providing comprehensive primary care to adolescents and adults. Her clinical background includes general primary care, preventive medicine, well-woman care, chronic disease management, children’s and adolescent health, and school-based health services.

Katie believes in providing care that is holistic, compassionate, and centered on the individual patient. She takes the time to listen, understand what matters most to each person, and involve patients in making informed decisions about their health. Her goal is to build trusted relationships and develop care plans that support patients throughout every stage of life.
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Katie has relocated to the area and now calls our coastal community home.

Meet Dale Rasmussen, PA-C
Dale brings 13 years of clinical experience as a Physician Assistant. After discovering his passion for medicine while working as an EMT and retiring from a career in teaching, he pursued his education and board certification as a Physician Assistant.

His clinical background includes family medicine, urgent care, pain management, men’s health, preventive care, chronic disease management, and medication-assisted treatment. Dale cares for patients across the lifespan and values continuity, trust, and long-term relationships in family medicine.

Dale will join Dr. Bertolli and Nurse Practitioner Lois Falk as one of RCMS’s senior primary care providers, collaborating on complex case review and helping mentor and support practitioners who are in the formative years of their medical careers.

Dale and his wife, Mary, will be making our coastal community their new home.

​Growing Our Medical Team for Our Community
Katie and Dale share RCMS’s commitment to accessible, compassionate, and high-quality healthcare. Their addition strengthens the care available to patients and supports RCMS’s continued growth as a comprehensive, community-based healthcare organization.

RCMS looks forward to announcing additional providers, expanded services, and new programs designed to meet the changing healthcare needs of our community.

Katie and Dale will accept new patients, as well as patients transferring from providers who have departed RCMS. Patients are encouraged to contact RCMS to learn more about appointment availability or to establish or transfer their care.
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Thank you for continuing to entrust RCMS with your healthcare. It is our privilege to care for you, your family, and the community we all call home.

As we recognize Labor Day, Redwood Coast Medical Services extends our appreciation to the dedicated people whose work strengthens our communities every day—including our own healthcare team and the many individuals who help make the Mendonoma Coast such a special place to live and visit.

RCMS Primary Care and Dental Services will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026, in observance of Labor Day.

Our Urgent Care will remain available on-call for urgent healthcare needs. Patients should call (707) 884-4005 before arrival.

For our rural coastal communities, access to care during weekends and holidays is especially important. RCMS is proud to continue providing Urgent Care support when our regularly scheduled clinics are closed.
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We wish our patients, staff, community partners, residents, and visitors a safe, healthy, and enjoyable Labor Day.

Redwood Coast Medical Services is excited to welcome our community to Black & White Night 2026, our annual fundraising event celebrating community, generosity, and the continued support of healthcare along the Mendonoma Coast.

Join us on Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at The Sea Ranch Lodge for an unforgettable evening of great food, entertainment, community connection, and fundraising in support of local healthcare.

Tickets are selling quickly, with only 16 remaining. If you are hoping to attend this year’s Black & White Night, we encourage you to reserve your tickets soon.
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Reserve your tickets:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/black-and-white-night--2026

​Thank you for supporting Redwood Coast Medical Services and helping us continue our mission of providing compassionate, accessible healthcare for our community.

Black & White Night is about more than one evening. It is an opportunity for our community to come together in support of the equipment, technology, and infrastructure RCMS needs to continue providing quality healthcare close to home.


Even if you are unable to attend—or if tickets sell out—you can still participate by making a contribution toward one of RCMS’s current priority projects, including the Gualala Urgent Care Generator, new dental equipment, a second pharmacy service window, and new computer workstations for RCMS staff.


And your gift can have an even greater impact: thanks to a generous anonymous donor, eligible contributions will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000.


Sponsorship opportunities are also still available for businesses, organizations, and individuals who would like to support Black & White Night and invest in the future of local healthcare.
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Choose a priority project that is meaningful to you:

Dental Chair
Funding Goal: $10,000
Help replace aging dental equipment with a new patient chair designed to support safe, comfortable, and efficient dental care.
Support Dental Care
 
Dental Hygienist Chair
Funding Goal: $10,000
Provides updated equipment to support comfortable, high-quality preventive dental care.
Support Hygiene Care
 
Second Pharmacy Window
Funding Goal: $28,000
Adds a second service window to improve patient access, privacy, and efficiency in our future pharmacy.
Support the Pharmacy

​10 New Computer Workstations
Funding Goal: $31,000
Provides updated technology for 10 employees to improve efficiency and support quality patient care.
Support Technology
 
Gualala Urgent Care Generator
Funding Goal: $65,000
Provides backup power for Urgent Care, Imaging, and other critical services during power outages.
Support the Generator

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a reminder that staying up to date on recommended vaccines is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself, your family, and our community.


Vaccines help prevent serious illnesses before they occur and play an important role in keeping children healthy, protecting older adults, and reducing the spread of preventable diseases. Whether you're preparing a child for the new school year or reviewing your own recommended vaccinations, now is an excellent time to talk with your healthcare provider.


RCMS encourages patients of all ages to stay current on recommended immunizations, including childhood vaccines, adult boosters, seasonal vaccines, and those recommended for older adults.


As a Federally Qualified Health Center, RCMS provides care regardless of ability to pay—no one is turned away.


📞 Gualala Health Center: (707) 884-4005
📞 Point Arena Health Center: (707) 882-1704
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Primary Care • Behavioral Health • Dental • Urgent Care

Redwood Coast Medical Services (RCMS) has received an extraordinary show of support from a generous anonymous donor who has pledged to match community donations to Black & White Night—up to $50,000.
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The matching gift means that every eligible dollar donated by community members, businesses, and organizations will be doubled, helping RCMS invest in critical equipment, technology, and infrastructure that support patient care throughout southern Mendocino and northern Sonoma counties.

"We are incredibly grateful for this remarkable gift," said Linda Royal, Chief Executive Officer of RCMS. "This challenge is more than a donation—it is an invitation for our entire community to come together and make an even greater impact. Every contribution, regardless of size, will help strengthen healthcare close to home."

As RCMS approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027, the organization continues to invest in projects that will sustain and strengthen healthcare services for future generations. Current priorities include replacing a backup generator in Gualala, upgrading dental equipment in Point Arena, investing in technology that supports providers and patients, and enhancing the facilities and equipment needed to continue delivering high-quality care.

Robin Hathaway and Paddy Batchelder, volunteer Co-Chairs of Black & White Night, said the anonymous matching gift reflects the generosity that has defined the event since its beginning.

"We've always believed this community understands the importance of having exceptional healthcare close to home," Hathaway said. "This generous challenge gives every donor the opportunity to make twice the difference."

Batchelder added, "Whether someone gives $25, $250, or becomes an event sponsor, every gift will have double the impact thanks to this extraordinary act of generosity."

​Sponsorship opportunities for Black & White Night, scheduled for September 24, 2026, at The Sea Ranch Lodge, are still available. Tickets for the event will go on sale in August, with additional event details to be announced soon.

Community members who wish to take advantage of the matching challenge by making a donation or becoming a sponsor are encouraged to contact Robin Hathaway, Event Coordinator, at robin@hathawaybenefits.com or Karen Wilder, Event Liaison, at kwilder@rcms-healthcare.org.
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National Health Center Week is an opportunity to recognize the vital role community health centers play in providing accessible, high-quality healthcare across the country.


For Redwood Coast Medical Services (RCMS), it's also a time to celebrate the patients, families, providers, staff, and community partners who help make our mission possible.


As a Federally Qualified Health Center, RCMS is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to quality healthcare, regardless of their ability to pay. We proudly serve the coastal communities from Elk to Timber Cove by providing Primary Care, Behavioral Health, Dental services in Point Arena, and a unique 7-day-a-week Urgent Care that helps bridge the distance between our rural communities and the nearest hospitals.


Healthcare is about more than treating illness—it's about building relationships, supporting prevention, and helping individuals and families live healthier lives. Every day, our dedicated team works to provide compassionate, patient-centered care close to home.


During National Health Center Week, we thank our patients for trusting us with their care, our staff for their dedication, and our community partners for helping us build a healthier coast together.


As a Federally Qualified Health Center, RCMS provides care regardless of ability to pay—no one is turned away.


📞 Gualala Health Center: (707) 884-4005
📞 Point Arena Health Center: (707) 882-1704
🦷 Point Arena Dental Center: (707) 882-2189
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Thank you for allowing RCMS to be part of your healthcare journey.

Staying healthy isn't just about treating illness—it's also about preventing health concerns before they become more serious. That's why Medicare Annual Wellness Visits are such an important part of healthy aging.

A Medicare Annual Wellness Visit gives you and your healthcare provider time to review your overall health, discuss risk factors, update medications, and develop a personalized prevention plan based on your individual needs and goals.

During the visit, your provider may discuss:
• Recommended screenings and preventive services
• Current medications and health history
• Fall prevention and home safety
• Memory and cognitive health
• Nutrition, exercise, and healthy lifestyle habits

These visits are designed to help you stay healthy, maintain your independence, and identify potential concerns early.

If you have Medicare and haven't had a wellness visit within the past year, now may be a great time to schedule one.

As a Federally Qualified Health Center, RCMS provides care regardless of ability to pay—no one is turned away.

📞 Gualala Health Center: (707) 884-4005
📞 Point Arena Health Center: (707) 882-1704

Primary Care • Behavioral Health • Dental • Urgent Care

July is UV Safety Month, a reminder that protecting your skin is an important part of maintaining your overall health.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can damage skin cells and increase the risk of premature aging and skin cancer. While everyone enjoys spending time outdoors during the summer months, taking a few simple precautions can help protect your skin.

Tips for staying safe in the sun include:
• Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher
• Wear protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses
• Seek shade during peak sun hours
• Stay hydrated when spending time outdoors

Early detection and prevention play important roles in skin health. If you notice changes in your skin or have concerns about sun exposure, talk with your healthcare provider.

As a Federally Qualified Health Center, RCMS provides care regardless of ability to pay—no one is turned away.

📞 Gualala Health Center: (707) 884-4005
📞 Point Arena Health Center: (707) 882-1704

Primary Care • Behavioral Health • Dental • Urgent Care

As our community celebrates Independence Day, RCMS would like to remind patients that Urgent Care services will remain available on-call during the holiday on Saturday, July 4.

While RCMS Primary Care and Dental clinics are not open on Saturdays, our Urgent Care team will be available to assist patients with urgent healthcare needs from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

To help us provide the best possible care, patients are asked to call before arrival:

📞 (707) 884-4005

RCMS Urgent Care plays an important role in serving our rural coastal communities, providing access to care close to home when hospitals and emergency services may be many miles away.

We wish our patients, staff, visitors, and community members a safe and enjoyable Independence Day weekend.

🩺 Urgent Care Available On-Call
🕗 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
📞 (707) 884-4005