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 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
 What is COPD?
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. Progressive means the disease gets worse over time. COPD can cause coughing that produces large amounts of a slimy substance called mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and other symptoms. COPD can often be prevented. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Most people who have COPD smoke or used to smoke. However, up to 25 percent of people with COPD never smoked. Long-term exposure to other lung irritants—such as air pollution, chemical fumes, or dusts—also may contribute to COPD. A rare genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency can also cause the disease. Causes Long-term exposure to lung irritants that damage the lungs and the airways usually is the cause of COPD. In the United States, the most common irritant that causes COPD is cigarette smoke. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoke also can cause COPD, especially if the smoke is inhaled. Breathing in secondhand smoke, which is in the air from other people smoking; air pollution; or chemical fumes or dusts from the environment or workplace also can contribute to COPD. Rarely, a genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) may play a role in causing COPD. People who have this condition have low blood levels of AAT—a protein made in the liver. Having a low level of the AAT protein can lead to lung damage and COPD if you are exposed to smoke or other lung irritants. If you have alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and also smoke, COPD can worsen very quickly. Some people who have asthma can develop COPD. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Treatment usually can reverse the inflammation and narrowing that occurs in asthma. Outlook COPD is a major cause of disability, and it is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Currently, 16 million people are diagnosed with COPD. Many more people may have the disease and not even know it. COPD develops slowly. Symptoms often worsen over time and can limit your ability to do routine activities. Severe COPD may prevent you from doing even basic activities like walking, cooking, or taking care of yourself. Most of the time, COPD is diagnosed in middle-aged or older adults. The disease is not contagious, meaning it cannot be passed from person to person. COPD is the result of damage to the lungs from smoking cigarettes or by breathing in second-hand smoke or other lung irritants—such as air pollution, chemical fumes, or dusts. COPD has no cure yet, and doctors do not know how to reverse the damage to the lungs. However, treatments and lifestyle changes can help you feel better, stay more active, and slow the progress of the disease. Prevent Complications and Slow the Progression of COPD If you have COPD, the most important step you can take is to quit smoking. Quitting can help prevent complications and slow the progression of the disease. You also should avoid exposure to the lung irritants mentioned above. Follow your treatments for COPD exactly as your doctor prescribes. They can help you breathe easier, stay more active, and avoid or manage severe symptoms. Talk with your doctor about whether and when you should get flu, or influenza, and pneumonia vaccines. These vaccines can lower your chances of getting these illnesses, which are major health risks for people who have COPD. For more information visit the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
 Are you a friendly, organized, and customer-focused individual? Our community health center is looking for a Front Desk Specialist to be the first point of contact for our patients!
Position Highlights: 🔹 Greet and assist patients with a smile 🔹 Schedule appointments and manage phone calls 🔹 Support a positive, welcoming environment This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact in our community. If you're passionate about helping others and enjoy working in a team, we’d love to hear from you! Apply today and be part of a team dedicated to quality care and service.  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: "Thank you! As a patient with stage 4 cancer it is a true blessing to be able to come 10 minutes from home and not 2 hours!" "Just an overall amazing experience. We are so fortunate to have RCMS in the community." "Wonderful care! (Due to emergency, I had to wait 45 minutes, but I felt very cared for once I was called in)." "I was treated for severe knee pain. I came back for an x-ray and follow-up. I was given a referral for MRI when I returned home. Everyone was very pleasant and knowledgeable. I appreciate the great care I was given." "RCMS staff were very professional, knowledgeable, courteous, smart, and nice to be around." A public health safety message from the California Department of Public Health.  |
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