Health
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- Written by: Editor
UKIAH – Mendocino Community Health Clinic Inc. (MCHC) is pleased to announce that Cristina Cruz, LCSW, has joined its integrated behavioral health team.
Cruz received her bachelor's degree from the University of El Salvador in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She received her master's degree in art therapy from the College of New Rochelle in New York and, in 2005, her master's in social work from San Francisco State University.
Cruz brings to her work a broad experience in working with children, adolescents and their families, and with victims of domestic violence.
About her new position, Cruz said, “I am looking forward to joining with MCHC’s mission to make sure that all people have access to the support they need to live happy, healthy lives. My new position will bring me in contact with a wide variety of people, and a strong team of professionals. I look forward to working with the community that MCHC serves and being part of the team.”
Fluent in both Spanish and English, Cruz is available to meet community needs at MCHC centers in both Lake and Mendocino counties. To make an appointment, call 707-472-4682.
A locally governed nonprofit health care corporation, MCHC operates three community health centers. Its mission is to provide access to excellent health care services for the most vulnerable people in its communities.
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- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A bone-density exam is painless, quick, very informative and able to diagnose osteoporosis or any loss in bone-density.
The bone-density exam office is conveniently located on the Sutter Lakeside Hospital campus at 5132 Hill Road East in Lakeport.
Exams are scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:20 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the outpatient lab office building (to the south of the main hospital building).
A bone-density exam, which measures density in the hip and spine, is noninvasive and exposes patients to lower levels of radiation than a bone scan. The radiation exposure is less than that of a chest X-ray.
This test is particularly important to menopausal women who are at high risk for rapid bone loss, which may lead to osteoporosis.
Bone loss can be caused by hormonal changes, chemotherapy or simple aging. If diagnosed, it can almost always be treated, in the hopes of preventing further bone loss.
For more information or to make an appointment, please contact the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Medical Imaging Department at 707-262-5030.
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- Written by: Editor
LAKE COUNTY – Lake Family Resource Center is once again offering the American Lung Association “Freedom from Smoking” tobacco cessation program beginning on May 18.
“Freedom from Smoking”, the leading smoking cessation program in the United States for over 25 years, shows participants how to quit smoking for good in a supportive setting.
The classes are free to Lake County residents and are offered in two locations – Lakeport and Clearlake.
The Clearlake classes will take place at Lake Family Resource Center, 14264 Austin Road (across from Burns Valley School). Classes will meet from 10 a.m. to noon.
The Lakeport classes will take place at the Sutter Lakeside Wellness Center, in the Healing House, 5176 Hill Road East. Classes will meet from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Participants meet weekly with a small group of people so everyone attending gets personal attention.
No two smokers are alike, so the program helps everyone create their own quit plan. Because support of others is important while quitting, being with a group who understands the challenges of quitting helps at a time when support is most needed.
You CAN be smoke free by summer. Millions of people have quit. You can, too. Lake Family Resource Center looks forward to helping you achieve your goals.
For more information, and to register for the classes call Joy Swetnam or Glenn Koeppel, Lake Family Resource Center, at 707-279-0563 or email
Pre-registration is not required – drop-ins are always welcome.
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- Written by: Office of Assemblyman Wes Chesbro
SACRAMENTO – The State Assembly’s Health Committee has approved a bill by First District Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) that would require health plans to maintain sufficient provider networks to ensure their customers have access to physicians.
“When insurance companies charge premiums and then fail to provide the health care, it is plain and simple fraud and should be prohibited,” Chesbro said. “This bill is about putting a stop to the abuses of health insurance companies who shrink provider networks after enrolling members in their plans.
“Last year, Anthem Blue Cross canceled contracts statewide with 53,000 doctors who serve Healthy Families kids, attempting to force these doctors to accept significantly reduced rates,” he added. “Understandably, many doctors refused to sign these new contracts, resulting in huge reductions to Anthem’s provider network.”
AB 2586 would require that network directories are accurate and up to date. If a provider network is substantially modified the insurer must demonstrate to the regulator, prior to making the change, there will still be an adequate provider network. The state Department of Managed Health Care would be required to ensure a plan’s compliance with current network adequacy standards during its periodic on-site medical review.
“AB 2586 is a simple measure that will bring more accountability and transparency to health plan provider networks to ensure that patients can access a health-care provider when they need one,” Chesbro said.
The California Medical Association is the sponsor of AB 2586. The bill is also supported by the American College of Emergency Physicians, California Dental Association, California Chiropractic Association, California Hospital Association, California Psychological Association, Children Now, Health Access and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
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