CEO Report Notes from 2/26/25 Board Meeting

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. 
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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

• Last week we had two executives from Partnership Health Plan visited us. Both the Operations Director and Medical Director of the Northern California region visited us. I have been trying to get them here for some time – this is their first visit. I had with me Dr. Bertolli and Dr. Afsoon with me during their visit. These types of influential people must see the uniqueness and comprehensiveness of what we do. They left quite impressed and a lot more knowledgeable about the importance of RCMS in an isolated community like ours.
• We continue to have difficulties with our Genoa Pharmacy staffing. We know it is difficult to recruit qualified professionals here. We are staffing the pharmacy with temporary staff while looking for a permanent pharmacist/site manager.
• On a positive note, we are expecting to have our new MD start this week. We also interviewed another new midlevel provider – and made an offer.
• We are restarting the Teen Clinic to provide teen-specific clinical care to the teens in our high school. We intend to work with Action Network as an intermediary between us and the school district for this purpose.
• At this time, we guess that our scheduled HRSA OSV could be delayed somewhat this year. Because of changes to the Health and Human Services Department, OSVs are on hold currently. Although I was informed yesterday that they are starting back up in March.
• This week we also met with the CLSD board to present to them our Urgent Care financials. As part of our contractual relationship with CLSD, we try to provide this information quarterly to their board. Drew, Christie, and I met with their board on Monday.

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