​Healthy aging isn't about avoiding every health challenge. It's about taking steps that help you remain active, connected, independent, and engaged in the things that matter to you.

Regular visits with your healthcare provider are an important part of that process. Preventative visits can help identify concerns such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, changes in mobility, medication issues, and other conditions before they become more serious.

You may notice your provider asking more questions as you get older: Have you fallen recently? Are you having trouble hearing? Have you noticed changes in your memory? Are you able to manage your medications? How are you sleeping? Do you feel lonely or isolated?

These aren't just routine questions. They can help identify changes that affect your health, safety, independence, and quality of life.

September is Healthy Aging Month, making it a great time to schedule a wellness visit and talk about what you can do today to support your health in the years ahead.

Gualala: (707) 884-4005
Point Arena: (707) 882-1704
Point Arena Dental Center: (707) 882-2189

​September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, an opportunity to encourage women to pay attention to changes in their bodies and discuss persistent or unusual symptoms with their healthcare provider.

Unlike some other cancers, there is currently no reliable screening test for ovarian cancer for women without symptoms. A Pap test does not screen for ovarian cancer. That makes awareness of symptoms especially important.

Possible symptoms can include persistent bloating, pelvic pain or pressure, abdominal or back pain, feeling full quickly or having difficulty eating, changes in bathroom habits, and unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge. These symptoms can have many causes other than cancer, but persistent changes should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

This is also why your provider may ask about symptoms that don't initially seem related to a routine visit, as well as your personal and family history of cancer. Your answers can help determine whether additional evaluation may be appropriate.

You know your body best. If something has changed and doesn't feel normal for you, tell your provider.

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

​September is Cholesterol Education Month, a good reminder to know your numbers and understand what they mean for your long-term health.

High cholesterol usually doesn't cause symptoms. A simple blood test called a lipid profile measures LDL ("bad") cholesterol, HDL ("good") cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. Your provider considers these results along with factors such as your age, family history, blood pressure, smoking history, and other health conditions when evaluating your risk for heart disease and stroke.

That's why your RCMS provider may ask questions about your diet, physical activity, family medical history, medications, tobacco use, or when you last had blood work. These questions help build a more complete picture of your cardiovascular health.

If you don't know your cholesterol numbers—or aren't sure when they were last checked—ask your provider whether cholesterol screening is appropriate for you.
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Learn more from the CDC's cholesterol information and screening resources.
Schedule an appointment:
Gualala Health Center: (707) 884-4005
Point Arena Health Center: (707) 882-1704

Katie Brandt, FNP-C, and Dale Rasmussen, PA-C, join RCMS’s growing medical team, bringing experience, compassion, and a commitment to community-based care.
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Redwood Coast Medical Services is pleased to welcome two new primary care providers to its medical team. Katie Brandt, board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, and Dale Rasmussen, board-certified Physician Assistant, bring a broad range of clinical experience and a shared commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered care close to home.

Their addition reflects RCMS’s ongoing investment in building a strong, stable medical team and supporting continuity of care for patients throughout our coastal communities.

Building a Stronger Medical Home
RCMS recognizes that provider transitions can be difficult for patients and families. Establishing a relationship with a medical provider takes time and trust, and continuity of care remains an important priority.

CEO Linda Royal, Dr. Tom Bertolli, and Dr. Afsoon Foorohar have taken considerable care in recruiting medical professionals who bring not only strong clinical knowledge and experience, but also compassion, integrity, and a genuine commitment to rural medicine.
“Our goal is not simply to fill positions. We are building a strong, stable, and highly skilled medical team whose members want to become part of the community they serve and develop meaningful, long-term relationships with their patients,” said Royal.

RCMS provides a comprehensive medical home supported by multiple primary care providers five days a week, Urgent Care seven days a week, after-hours clinical support, and cross-coverage when a patient’s regular provider is unavailable. Patients also have access to onsite laboratory and X-ray services, behavioral health, dental care, referral coordination, outreach and enrollment services, and care teams dedicated to helping them navigate their healthcare needs.

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 [email protected] or Karen Wilder, Event Liaison, at [email protected].
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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.