RCMS News and Events
|
Stay Connected with RCMS
Scroll down to see the latest updates and click the button below to subscribe to The Pulse to get regular updates from RCMS directly to your email inbox. |
 It’s not really a surprise that Holly Hamm has found her way to Gualala and RCMS. Holly grew up in Livermore and has loved outdoor backpacking with her parents and three siblings since she was three years old. Always very drawn to medicine. (The TV show Emergency was her favorite show growing up.) At 14, the family sailed from San Francisco to Canada and she was fascinated by and read the entire emergency medical book on the ship. So, yes, medicine has been on Holly’s radar for a long time. After getting her BA at San Diego State University, majoring in Outdoor Recreation, Holly worked as an EMT for 2 years and a paramedic for 6 years before getting her Nursing degree at Sonoma State University.
Holly was a nurse in Sonoma County for 10 years (Sutter Santa Rosa ICU, Petaluma Valley Hospital ER, and Sonoma Valley Hospital ER) before she went back to Sonoma State to get her Nurse Practitioner degree and certification. Holly is enthusiastic about RCMS and believes that we have a wonderful group of practitioners and staff. She loves being here and especially loves the diversity of patients and the beauty and gentle atmosphere of Gualala and the North Coast. Holly’s personal life is quite full. She has 2 boys. Her older son is in Guadalajara, Mexico working remotely and becoming fluent in Spanish. Her younger son is a 20-year student at Cal Poly, studying physics. Holly continues to have her home in Petaluma where she raised her kids, mostly as a single mom. Holly has been at RCMS about a year and we are so lucky to have this thoughtful, super experienced Provider on our team.  Influenza (flu) season is upon us! We encourage everyone 6 months and older to get a seasonal flu shot.
RCMS is doing EXTRA flu shot appointments for infants and children (6 months and older) on: Saturday, November 30 Please call us at 707.884.4005 to schedule an appointment! We also offer flu shots for children and adolescents every week day (by appointment) at the Gualala Health Center. Genoa Pharmacy, located in the Sea Watch building across the street from the Gualala Health Center, also offers flu shots (including the “High Dose Senior Flu shot”) to anyone 12 and older. Call 800.234.6615 to schedule an appointment with Genoa Pharmacy. Stay Healthy!  Redwood Coast Medical Services (RCMS) announces that its Primary Care and Dental services will be closed on Thursday, November 28, 2024, in observance of Thanksgiving.
For those requiring immediate medical attention, the Urgent Care clinic at the Gualala Medical Center will be available on-call on Friday, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Patients must first call 707-884-4005 before visiting to ensure the appropriate staff can be called in to address their urgent healthcare needs. During the holiday closure, any calls to RCMS will be forwarded to a medical hotline staffed by Registered Nurses who can provide medical advice and support. RCMS wishes everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.  Influenza (flu) season is upon us! We encourage everyone 6 months and older to get a seasonal flu shot.
RCMS is doing EXTRA flu shot appointments for infants and children (6 months and older) on the following days: Saturday, November 23 Sunday, November 24 Saturday, November 30 Please call us at 707.884.4005 to schedule an appointment! We also offer flu shots for children and adolescents every week day (by appointment) at the Gualala Health Center. Genoa Pharmacy, located in the Sea Watch building across the street from the Gualala Health Center, also offers flu shots (including the “High Dose Senior Flu shot”) to anyone 12 and older. Call 800.234.6615 to schedule an appointment with Genoa Pharmacy. Stay Healthy!  Several local roads, including Highway 1, are now flooded. A Flood Watch is in effect through Friday across much of Mendocino and Sonoma counties. To help reduce unnecessary travel and support our first responders, RCMS advises the following:
1️⃣ Reschedule Appointments if Needed If you need to cancel an appointment, please call our front desk, and we will reschedule:
2️⃣ Telemedicine Options Available If you prefer a telemedicine visit, and your provider feels it’s appropriate, we can switch your scheduled appointment to telemedicine for this storm. 3️⃣ Urgent Care Remains Open Urgent Care is open 7 days a week, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (on call weekends). Please CALL FIRST for an appointment: 707-884-4005. This helps us ensure proper staffing for your visit. 4️⃣ Stay Safe and Avoid Risky Activities Reduce the strain on our Ambulance and Fire colleagues by avoiding activities that could result in injury. 5️⃣ Check on Vulnerable Neighbors Please check in on elderly or fragile neighbors who may need assistance. 6️⃣ Plan for Power Outages If you rely on essential medical equipment (e.g., oxygen concentrators), make sure you have a backup plan, such as a generator. Stay safe, stay informed, and let’s support each other through this storm.  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: "I continue to be extremely pleased with the RCMS dental program in Point Arena. And the superb and detailed care, concern, and follow-up." "I was extremely satisfied with the care received. I've reported this to several friends that frequent the area. I told them don't hesitate to got to your facility. by the way I was in health care for 30+ years." "The Urgent Care team are excellent. They exceed any limitations that the practice lacks. The staff I dealt with were exemplary and ought to be managing all aspects of ER!" "The provider showed me kindness and concern. Explained tests order and results in a manner that I understood. Felt safe and heard." "We are so fortunate to have urgent care at RCMS and thankful for the skilled providers!"  As of late September 2024, residential households in the U.S. are eligible for another order of #4 free at-home tests from USPS.com.
Here's what you need to know about your order:
Many COVID-19 tests have extended expiration dates, so you may be able to use your COVID-19 tests after the expiration date that is printed on the box. To find out if your test has an extended expiration date, check the link below: US FDA Order COVID Test Kits  Join our community health center team as a Medical Assistant and play a vital role in supporting patient care! 🩺
Position Highlights: 🔹 Assist providers with patient exams and procedures 🔹 Take vital signs and update medical records 🔹 Ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all patients If you have a passion for healthcare, excellent attention to detail, and enjoy working in a collaborative setting, we’d love to meet you! Apply today to be part of a team dedicated to making a positive impact in our community.  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 Three months into fiscal year 2025, our financial condition remains strong, but we continue to experience weakness in patient revenue, producing monthly and year-to-date losses in net income. Various factors have contributed to a deficit in Primary Care visits, primarily a shortage of Primary Care providers. We hope to remedy that shortage in the coming weeks. 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 October 30, 2024, on the RCMS website: Board Agenda and Packet  November is National Diabetes Month, a time when communities across the country seek to bring attention to diabetes. This year’s focus is on taking action to prevent diabetes health problems.
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. It affects about 37 million Americans, including adults and youth. Diabetes can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart, and it is linked to some types of cancer. But there’s also good news: Taking charge of your health may help you prevent diabetes health problems. Tips to get started Manage your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. Research shows that managing your diabetes as soon as possible after diagnosis may help prevent diabetes health problems. You can start by managing your diabetes ABCs.
Take small steps toward healthy habits. Lifestyle habits such as planning healthy meals, being physically active, getting enough sleep, and not smoking may help you manage your diabetes ABCs. You don’t have to do it all at once. Start slow and build healthier habits from there. Take your medicines on time. Remember to take your medicines even if you feel healthy. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have trouble taking your medicines on time or at the correct dose. Reach or maintain a healthy weight. If you have overweight or obesity, ask your primary care provider if healthy eating, physical activity, or other weight-loss treatments may help you manage your weight. Take care of your mental health. Managing diabetes can be hard. If you feel down, sad, or overwhelmed, learn about healthy wasy to cope with stress. Consider talking to a mental health counselor or joining a support group. Work with your health care team. Managing diabetes takes a team. Your health care team may include a primary care provider, diabetes specialist, registered dietitian, or certified diabetes educator. Ask your primary care provider if you should talk with other health care professionals about your diabetes. Diabetes medicines, devices, and office visits can be expensive. A social worker or a member of your health care team may be able to help you find community resources or financial help for diabetes care. For more information please visit: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease |
News & EventsLatest news and information on upcoming events at RCMS Archives
November 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed
