Our Story
Landing in front of the first RCMS clinic at Stewarts Point 1978.
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RCMS opened in 1977, incorporated and licensed as a community clinic in 1978 and was designated in 1999 as a Federally Qualified Health Center 330(e). The RCMS Urgent Care Department is one of only a few clinics in California that is designated by the state as an Interim Stabilization Facility, allowing the clinic to receive ambulance transports.
The RCMS service area is designated by California as one of a total of 56 Rural Frontier Medical Service Study Areas (MSSA) as well as a primary Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). Since its inception, RCMS has played an integral role in the community and has a track record of developing programs to meet stated community needs. In turn, the success of community fundraising events and campaigns is a testament to the value the community places on RCMS. We are grateful for your support! |
RCMS Receives National Recognition from the
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
HRSA awarded RCMS 3 badges for Community Health Quality Recognition for making notable achievements in the areas of access, quality, health equity, health information technology applications, social risk factor screening, and COVID-19 public health emergency response.
Access Enhancer
Increases the total number of patients served and the number of patients who receive at least one comprehensive service (mental health, substance abuse, vision, dental, and/or enabling) by at least 5%. |
Health Disparities Reducer
Demonstrates improvements in select clinical quality measures during consecutive Uniform Data Systems (UDS) reporting years (2020 and 2021 UDS). |
COVID-19 Public Health Champion
Recognizes health center contributions to providing critical public health services to health center services during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and is awarded to the top 10% of health centers that provided COVID-19 vaccinations and/or COVID-19 diagnostic testing to the largest proportion of health center patients. |
Federally Qualified Health Center
Why is RCMS able to provide health care at a lower cost than other healthcare organizations? RCMS complies with the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) which provides RCMS, and other FQHCs, with malpractice insurance coverage at a below-market rate. Our health center receives HHS funding and has a Federal PHS deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and its covered individuals. |
Redwood Coast Medical Services (RCMS) is a community health center designated as a "Federally Qualified Health Center" or FQHC. As an FQHC, RCMS is funded in part under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act.
The FQHC program provides for cost-based reimbursement under Medicare and MediCal for legislatively specified services in medically underserved area. FQHCs began as the Community Health Centers and Migrant Health Centers of the 1960s and 1970s focusing on primary care, health education and prevention. In addition to providing comprehensive health care services, FQHCs are required to offer supportive services to promote culturally appropriate access to care for all in the community. A sliding fee scale ensures that no one is turned away because of an inability to pay. FQHCs are held to strict standards for performance and accountability regarding administrative, clinical and financial operations. As an FQHC, RCMS is governed by a community board, and a majority of the members of that Board are required to be patients of RCMS so that they can adequately represent those patients who receive care at our health center. |
Leadership
Our Executive Team works with the board to determine our strategic direction, and then creates operational plans to reach our strategic goals. Our leaders are committed to making sure our patients receive the best quality care and our employees work in a safe and supportive environment.
Our Board of Directors
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The RCMS Board of Directors is a community-based, all volunteer group. Board meetings are held monthly on the last Wednesday of the month from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The public can attend on the zoom meeting platform. Find all the dates and meeting links on the Board of Directors page.
RCMS Board of Directors Officers: Leslie Bates, Chair Barbara Fast, MD, Vice Chair Drew McCalley, Treasurer Janis Dolphin, Secretary Directors: Susan Hamlin, Hall Kelley, Kimberley Lakes, Patricia Lynch, Jim Nybakken, Andrea Polk, Laurie Voss, Harriet Wright |
Our Affiliations
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California Primary Care Association
The California Primary Care Association (CPCA) is the state's leading advocacy group for health centers. CPCA monitors state and federal legislation that will provide opportunities and create challenges to the system of care. Health Alliance of Northern California The Health Alliance of Northern California (HANC) is a network of community clinics and health centers working to promote the health and well-being of our communities in rural, Northern California. Mendonoma Health Alliance The Mendonoma Health Alliance (MHA) was formed in 2016 by: Coast Life Support District, RCMS, and St. Joseph’s Health System. This integrated rural health network is focused on expanding access to, coordinating, and improving the quality of healthcare services in our coastal community. National Association of Community Health Centers The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) was founded in 1971 to promote efficient, high quality, comprehensive health care that is accessible, culturally and linguistically competent, community directed, and patient centered for all. |
Our Mission and Vision
The mission of Redwood Coast Medical Services (RCMS) is to provide high quality, family-oriented, community based medical care, dental care and behavioral health services, including a broad range of preventive health services to residents and visitors within the coastal areas of Southern Mendocino and Northern Sonoma Counties.
RCMS is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 health center providing a full range of healthcare services at its three clinics located in Gualala and Point Arena. Services are designed to meet identified needs of the community services, are integrated with other existing healthcare services and systems, and are evaluated on a regular basis to assure that community health needs are being met.
RCMS provides services to qualified permanent area residents on a sliding fee scale basis, as well as to patients with MediCal and Medicare coverage, private insurance and self pay status. We turn no one away!
RCMS is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 health center providing a full range of healthcare services at its three clinics located in Gualala and Point Arena. Services are designed to meet identified needs of the community services, are integrated with other existing healthcare services and systems, and are evaluated on a regular basis to assure that community health needs are being met.
RCMS provides services to qualified permanent area residents on a sliding fee scale basis, as well as to patients with MediCal and Medicare coverage, private insurance and self pay status. We turn no one away!
