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 We send surveys to our patients to get their feedback on our service. The feedback helps us know what we are doing right and where we can get better.
The results of the survey are used by our performance improvement and quality improvement teams and are actively used to improve our delivery and provide you with the best possible service. Here are some excerpts from our survey responses: "The care I received was exemplary!" "RCMS and Urgent Care are the best places for any sick or injured person to arrive and be care for. All RCMS staff are extraordinary and superb! Always!" "Very busy Urgent Care unit due to high volume of flu/RSV/COVID. No rooms were available, so they treated me in our car which was very nice. Did one X-ray and provided us with meds. Thank you. Great help and care!" "Great staff friendly and on their game."  As of the end of January, seven months into our fiscal year, our financial condition remains strong, but we continue to experience weakness in Primary Care visits and patient revenue, due primarily to a shortage of Primary Care providers. With a new full-time MD coming on board in late February, this situation will gradually improve. Very strong fundraising income from our annual ask buoyed net income for the month, although the bottom line remains negative and significantly below budget for the fiscal year to date. On the positive side, expenses remain under good control, and we feel confident that we can continue to meet whatever financial challenges arise. In particular, we have ample cash reserves to withstand any potential cuts in government funding for an extended period of time.
Details on the latest financial results can be found in the board meeting packet for February 26, 2025, on the RCMS website: Board Agenda and Packet  Community Outreach
While various directives, Executive Orders, and news from Washington have created a sense of fear, uncertainty, and confusion – we, at this time, continue to provide our healthcare services to the community as we have done in the recent past. That is the message I am communicating to our community. As I have done in the last five years in other RCMS-related important topics, I am meeting with people in small groups, community members, and neighbors – mostly after hours to communicate this message, reduce the anxiety, and encourage them to continue to seek healthcare at RCMS as in the past. That is not to say that we are not preparing for the possible impacts of these changes, if they happen, on RCMS and our ability to provide comprehensive healthcare in our community. There is no alternative to RCMS for our remote, isolated, underserved community with many marginalized people. That perspective should be the ‘North Star’ of where we go from here. You may know that local community performers are presenting the musical/play ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ at Gualala Arts Center to sold-out audiences for six performances. Several of our team members, on their own, are involved in that production. Also, KGUA is having a fundraising activity next week. Again, some members of our staff, on their own, are participating in that. We are also going to sponsor a team, like the last few years, in our community’s Little League this year. And finally, our own fundraising activity – RCMS ‘Black and White’ dinner is coming up on March 19th. Hope all of you will participate in that event. Organizational/Operational update
 Our community health center is growing, and we’re looking for passionate professionals to join us! If you’re seeking a rewarding career in a supportive, professional environment, we’d love to hear from you!
Open Positions:
Why Join Us?
Be part of a team that values your expertise and supports your growth! Apply today and make a difference where it matters most.  Colorectal cancer screening saves lives.
Regular screening, beginning at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum). If you’re 45 to 75 years old, get screened for colorectal cancer regularly. If you’re younger than 45 and think you may be at high risk of getting colorectal cancer, or if you’re older than 75, talk to your doctor about screening. Colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. That is why getting screened regularly for colorectal cancer is so important. Screening Test Options Several screening tests can be used to find polyps or colorectal cancer, including some that you can do at home. Each test has advantages and disadvantages. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of each test, and how often to be tested. To schedule an appointment, call RCMS 707.884.4005. For more information please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website: CDC  If you’re seeking a rewarding career in a supportive, professional environment, we’d love to hear from you!
Why Join Us?
Be part of a team that values your expertise and supports your growth! Apply today and make a difference where it matters most.  Since October 31, 2023, Chris Behrens has been our Safety/Risk and Disaster Preparedness Lead, a job that is perfect for his background and temperament. Chris and his wife lived in Vacaville for over 20 years and while his wife, Molly taught school, Chris had a successful landscaping business where he certainly learned about preparedness and keeping the environment safe. He brings that 20 years of knowledge and experience to us and has done a fantastic yeoman’s job of planning and maintaining RCMS’s safety and disaster preparedness. This is very much a job that, though it is what he was hired for, he has fleshed out and expanded in important ways. When the rains came, he saw that people were slipping on the steps and so he and Kos Moelter put in channel drains to protect the steps.
When he saw that the windows were dirty in the waiting room, he went ahead and cleaned them and, when there is an emergency (like the tsunami warning), even if he’s not on duty, he’s comes in and guides us through it. Chis is also responsible for safety and preparedness in Point Arena and regularly does the Hazard Assessment with Yvonne Fuentes. Chris came to Gualala when he and Molly began to think about where they would want to retire, even though he knew he wasn’t quite ready for that particular step. Chris is from Southern California, and knew he wanted to be on the coast. Our Northern Coast was his first stop. That led him first to Irish Beach, but then when Renee Kaucnik and RCMS convinced him that our clinic was his next landing, he and Molly bought a home in Gualala and haven’t looked back. In his free time, because Chris is committed to staying healthy, one of the things he enjoys is Mud Runs. That means a run through the mud for about 5-10 kilometers. Yes, he actually does that and if there isn’t a formal mud run available, he loves to go to the muddy trails and run in the rain. And of course, he loves to work on his home – and he has all the tools to do that. Chris is a goer and a doer. We’re so lucky to have him here. Susan Hamlin  The theme for 2025 is “Superheroes behind the Smiles” and highlights the essential role dental assistants play in ensuring exceptional patient care and enhancing the overall dental experience. Dental assistants are a key part of the dental practice year-round and strengthen the entire practice while enhancing patient satisfaction. Dental assistants are committed to professional development and quality dental care.
Thank you to our Dental Assistants: Karina Gaona Trina Santillan Victoria Urizar  Congratulations to our team members celebrating work anniversaries this month! 🎉
Your dedication and commitment to our community’s health make a difference every day—thank you! |
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