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RCMS News and Events

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Annual Reports

October 2024 Work Anniversaries

9/30/2024

 
In recognition and honor all of our team members at RCMS who celebrated a work anniversary this month.


​Your dedication and hard work are deeply appreciated, and we are grateful for the commitment and passion you bring to our organization. Thank you for being an integral part of our team!
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Free Healthy Living With Diabetes Course Starting in Point Arena

9/18/2024

 
​Starting Wednesday, October 9, Point Arena residents can join the free Healthy Living With Diabetes course, held weekly from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

This program offers practical tips on managing diabetes through healthy lifestyle changes, nutrition, and blood sugar monitoring.

​For more details or to register, visit the Mendonoma Health Alliance website: mendonomahealth.org/chronic-care-support-networks.
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Treasurer’s Financial Snapshot from August 28, 2024

9/16/2024

 
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The RCMS Board is committed to increasing transparency and communication with the community. Each month we will share a financial snapshot. Complete financial reports are available on our webpage via the link at the end of this post.
 
RCMS Treasurer’s Financial Snapshot by Drew McCalley
 
As we begin our new fiscal year (beginning July 1), we remain in very good financial condition.  We had some volatility in our monthly results in July, due to provider absences, but we expect visits and patient revenue to recover in the coming months.  While revenues fell short of budgeted amounts, expenses remain under good control, and we feel confident that we can continue to meet whatever financial challenges arise.
 
Details on the latest financial results can be found in the board meeting packet for August 28, 2024, on the RCMS website:

Board Agenda and Packet

CEO Report Notes from August 28, 2024

9/14/2024

 
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The following is an outline of comments from the CEO at the recent Redwood Coast Medical Services (RCMS) Board Meeting.
​
Community Outreach
  • On Saturday, August 10th, we participated in the Coastal Fire and Safety Fair at Sea Ranch. We had a booth there. We created and distributed handouts detailing Emergency Supplies people should have at home. We categorized those into groups: earthquake, tsunami, extended power outage, and forest fire. We also provided a list of emergency supplies people should have in their cars. We also took the opportunity during the Fair to distribute Blood Pressure Measuring home devices (distributed about 70 devices). All in all, it was a good community event.
     
Organizational/Operational update
  • We recognized this month two of our key Primary care providers – Dr. Tom Bertolli for 40 years of service to RCMS, and Nurse Practitioner Lois Falk for 45 years of Service to RCMS. We held a BBQ for all team members where they were presented with special plaques recognizing their service to RCMS and the community. Several of our Board Members were also able to attend that activity. Thank you, Tom and Lois, for all you do for RCMS and our patients.
  • One of our Primary Care Providers, Kathy Willems, decided to retire. She was well-liked by her patients and had a full panel. We wish her well in her retirement. Currently, we are in the process of informing all her patients how they can set up appointments with a different Primary Care Provider.
  • We had hired a new Dentist last month. Unfortunately, he was not a good fit for our Dental Clinic, and we decided to terminate the relationship.
  • We continue our recruiting effort to add Providers to our roaster. We have an MD intern rotating with us now for two weeks, primarily working in Urgent Care. We also have a Physician who has a house in our community who will interview with us next month.
  • As I mentioned last month – our compute and communication infrastructure and associated performance of our IT systems have been an issue for us for a long time. It continues to adversely impact our operation. As such, we may be looking at transitioning some of our services to a different support organization than we currently have. This is a process and will happen over multiple months.
  • Tomorrow is an important day for Gualala Main Clinic. Tomorrow, Partnership Health Plan, which is MediCal for us, is coming to do their once-in-three-year clinical audit of our main Gualala facility. This is a critical activity, and a successful audit is a requirement for providing care to MediCal patients. As part of this activity, Partnership finished auditing provider charts yesterday. That was online. Tomorrow they will be here in person. We are prepared.
  • Earlier this month, California Primary Care Association’s CEO along with their VP of Government Affairs visited RCMS. The California Primary Care Association (CPCA) is the statewide leader and a recognized voice representing the interests of California’s community health centers (CHCs) like us and their patients. CPCA represents more than 1,250 not-for-profit Health Centers and Regional Clinic Associations.  They are influential voices in Sacramento as well as in Washington.

    Several of our staff and Board members were able to meet them. We had some insightful conversations, and I hope they got a sense of the critical role we perform to positively impact the healthcare outcomes of the people in our remote, isolated, and underserved community. Visibility with CPCA, for all the right reasons, is important to RCMS.
 
Facilities Update
  • The Mendocino County Archeological Commission considered our application and determined that an archeological survey would be necessary. To satisfy this requirement Archaeological Resource Service of Rohnert Park has been retained to complete a Cultural Resources Inventory of the site.
  • The Architectural and Engineering team is close to completing the 100% Design Development plans. We are still on track to have 50% of Construction documents complete by the end of September, at which point they will be distributed to three local general contractors for pricing.
  • The Collective Energy firm will be developing options for the installation of solar panels and battery storage in what will probably be two phases - one for the existing building and parking lot, and one for the new addition. At least one local contractor will be invited to bid on the installation of the system. Several financing options are available through Collective Energy that include extensive use of federal incentives. Recommended systems and the financing mechanism will be brought back to the Board for final approval at a future meeting.
  • Our Capital Campaign consultant team is in the process of completing its background work for the capital campaign. We will be working with them to develop a capital campaign plan, and we should have a draft from them within the next month.


September 24': And the Survey Says...

9/13/2024

 
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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 staff was professional and efficient in addressing my issue. My well being was their prime concern. Thank you RCMS for the excellent service."

"This was an emergency - I was brought in by ambulance. Got terrific care by everyone, the nurse on duty was ultra professional who got me stabilized enough to be taken to ER in Marin by my husband. EMTs in Gualala were wonderful too. I wish I could remember names."

"The staff should have more professional about introducing themselves when they arrive in my exam room. I believe only one staff member introduced themselves to me but the rest I actually had to ask their names and titles. Also, the front desk didn't have my information correct on my paperwork when I was going to be discharged. The staff member did go back to the front desk to have them make the correction. Overall, my experience at RCMS was pretty good. I appreciate all the help and care that day."

"I felt at ease the entire time despite it being a medical emergency. Things were explained to me and I got updates. Thanks for being there."

"I received excellent care. All the staff were friendly, polite, professional and well informed. We are lucky to have such a good urgent care in the coast.
"

September is Prostate Health Month

9/13/2024

 
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About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. It is the 2nd leading cancer killer of men, behind lung cancer. It is generally very slow growing and most men die with prostate cancer (meaning that they die of some other cause) rather than from it.  There are almost 3.1 million men living with prostate cancer in the USA.


​Still, it kills over 34,000 men each year. But detected early, prostate cancer can be treated.

While no one knows how to prevent prostate cancer, there may be ways to reduce your risk. It is thought that these help reduce the risk for most forms of cancer.
  • Eat healthy – and choose a low-fat diet
  • Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Stay physically active
  • Don’t use tobacco
  • Get regular checkups

Learn more about prostate cancer. Please visit:
American Cancer Society
Men's Health Resource Center

September is Cholesterol Education Month

9/11/2024

 
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What is cholesterol?

Blood cholesterol
 is a waxy, fat-like substance made by your liver. Blood cholesterol is essential for good health. Your body needs it to perform important jobs, such as making hormones and digesting fatty foods. Your body makes all the blood cholesterol it needs, which is why experts recommend that people eat as little dietary cholesterol as possible while on a healthy eating plan.


Dietary cholesterol
 is found in animal foods, including meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, and dairy products.
 
What do blood cholesterol numbers mean?
Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). When you go to a health care professional to get your cholesterol checked, this test (also called a lipid panel or lipid profile) will usually check the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in your body.
  • Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol. Having high levels of LDL cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries and result in heart disease or stroke.
  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol. HDL is known as “good” cholesterol because high levels of it can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.
  • Triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood that your body uses for energy. The combination of high levels of triglycerides with low HDL cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol levels can increase your risk for heart attack and stroke.
  • Total cholesterol, the total amount of cholesterol in your blood based on your HDL, LDL, and triglycerides numbers.

​Did you know?
  • 73.5 million American adults (31.7%) have high low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol.
  • But fewer than 1 out of every 3 adults with high LDL cholesterol has the condition under control.
  • High cholesterol has no symptoms, so you might not know that your cholesterol is too high – unless it’s measured by a doctor with a blood test.
While some risk factors – such as family history – may be out of your control, there are other ways to reduce or prevent high cholesterol, such as exercising, eating a healthy diet, not smoking and taking medication as prescribed. Adults age 20 and older should have their cholesterol levels checked every four to six years.
 
For more information please visit:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
American Heart Association

September 24' Work Anniversaries

9/9/2024

 
We would like to recognize and honor all of our team members at RCMS who celebrated a work anniversary in September 2024.

​Your dedication and hard work are deeply appreciated, and we are grateful for the commitment and passion you bring to our organization. Thank you for being an integral part of our team!
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Important Notice: Scheduled Maintenance for RCMS Patient Portal

9/6/2024

 
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We want to inform you of an upcoming update to the RCMS Patient Portal scheduled for Friday, September 13th, 2024. The portal will be undergoing maintenance and will be unavailable from 6 PM PDT to 6 AM PDT the following morning. This update is part of our ongoing efforts to enhance your experience and improve the portal’s functionality.

Please be aware that the system may also experience intermittent outages over the weekend as we continue to restore data flow and complete the upgrade process. While we aim to minimize disruptions, we recommend that you plan accordingly if you need access to your patient information during this time.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to bring you a better RCMS Patient Portal. 

Upcoming MEDICARE Presentation in Our Community

9/3/2024

 
Please see the information below on the next upcoming FREE Medicare presentation in our community. Scan the QR code on the flyer for more information. Please note that this is being coordinated by MHA and you should reach out to them directly for information. https://mendonomahealth.org
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  • Home
  • For Patients
    • Make an Appointment
    • Patient Forms
    • Financial Assistance
  • Services
    • Primary Care
    • Urgent Care
    • Dental Care
    • Women's Health
    • Behavioral Health
    • Addiction Treatment
    • Outreach & Enrollment
    • Visiting Nurse/Palliative Care
  • ABOUT
    • Contact Us
    • Leadership
    • Providers
    • Board of Directors
    • Privacy Policy
    • Donate >
      • IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution
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