Health
FORT BRAGG, Calif. – Mendocino Coast Clinics, or MCC, Executive Director Lucresha Renteria announced Monday that the health center received a $60,000 donation from a generous local benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous.
“We are absolutely thrilled,” she said. “Our donor said he had included us in his estate planning but decided he didn’t want to wait to see us put the money to good use.”
MCC has been providing healthcare to coastal residents for 25 years, serving everyone in the community regardless of their ability to pay.
Last year, MCC cared for approximately 9,800 patients, 90 percent of whom were low-income.
Each winter, the organization hosts a fundraiser called Crab, Wine & Beer Days where the auctioneer, Sheriff Tom Allman, asks attendees to help fund a specific need. This “Fund the Future” campaign allows MCC to expand to meet community needs.
This year, Fund the Future donations will be matched using the $60,000 donation – doubling the impact of each contribution. MCC is a non-profit organization, so all donations are tax deductible.
“We’re hoping people will be extra generous, knowing their dollars will have an even greater impact,” she said. “If any other donors would like to add to our Fund the Future project, we welcome your support! And in case you’re wondering when the fundraiser is, mark your calendars now for Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 2020!”
In the past, the Fund the Future project has been used to buy equipment for pediatrics clinic, including waiting room toys and a Thomas the Tank Engine-themed exam table. Last year, MCC’s Fund the Future project was dental equipment.
This year, MCC is looking at what $120,000 could buy that would best meet community needs.
Renteria said, “We are constantly paying attention to the changing needs of our community. When we identify a new healthcare need, we do our best to meet it.” This past year, they started a once-a-week service called Open Door@MCC to serve the LGBTQ and sex positive community.
Generous donations like this allow us to fill the gaps.
MCC is a local, nonprofit, federally qualified health center offering medical, dental and behavioral health care to people in the coastal communities of Mendocino County. Learn more at www.mendocinocoastclinics.org.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
SACRAMENTO – The California State Senate on Wednesday passed legislation authored by Sen. Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) that will protect patient safety and reinforce nurse staffing ratio requirements.
Following approval by the Legislature, Senate Bill 227 now heads to the governor for consideration.
Specifically, Senate Bill 227 empowers the California Department of Public Health to enforce the nurse staffing ratios by fining hospitals that repeatedly create unsafe conditions for patient care.
The proposal would require CDPH to conduct unannounced visits to hospitals to inspect for compliance with nurse staffing requirements.
In 1999, Gov. Gray Davis signed into law Assembly Bill 394, the nation’s first law mandating nurse-to-patient ratios in California.
Regulations implementing AB 394 went into effect in 2004, which set the minimum ratio of nurses to patient by unit, including one-to-one in operating rooms and one-to-five in general medical-surgical units. These ratios, enforced by CDPH, are outlined in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.
Even though these ratios have been mandated by law for over a decade, hospitals continue to violate staffing requirements. From 2008 to 2017, there were 634 out-of-ratio deficiencies reported to CDPH.
“The purpose of SB 227 is simple: to keep patients safe,” Sen. Leyva said. “It is vitally important that hospitals maintain required nurse staffing ratios at all times. In order to keep patients safe, the state must prioritize these regulations. When hospitals continue to ignore nurse staffing ratios, the state should be able to fine those facilities so that they fully understand the importance of staffing their hospitals appropriately to keep patients safe. I appreciate the support that SB 227 earned in the Legislature and look forward to Gov. Newsom realizing the importance of this measure for all Californians.”
The proposal is co-sponsored by SEIU California, SEIU Local 121RN and United Nurses Associations of California / Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC / UHCP).
SB 227 is also supported by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, California Labor Federation, California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, California Professional Firefighters, California School Employees Association, California School Nurses Organization, California Teamsters Public Affairs Council, Congress of California Seniors, Consumer Attorneys of California, Engineers and Scientists of California Local 20, International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 13 and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
Following approval by the Legislature, Senate Bill 227 now heads to the governor for consideration.
Specifically, Senate Bill 227 empowers the California Department of Public Health to enforce the nurse staffing ratios by fining hospitals that repeatedly create unsafe conditions for patient care.
The proposal would require CDPH to conduct unannounced visits to hospitals to inspect for compliance with nurse staffing requirements.
In 1999, Gov. Gray Davis signed into law Assembly Bill 394, the nation’s first law mandating nurse-to-patient ratios in California.
Regulations implementing AB 394 went into effect in 2004, which set the minimum ratio of nurses to patient by unit, including one-to-one in operating rooms and one-to-five in general medical-surgical units. These ratios, enforced by CDPH, are outlined in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.
Even though these ratios have been mandated by law for over a decade, hospitals continue to violate staffing requirements. From 2008 to 2017, there were 634 out-of-ratio deficiencies reported to CDPH.
“The purpose of SB 227 is simple: to keep patients safe,” Sen. Leyva said. “It is vitally important that hospitals maintain required nurse staffing ratios at all times. In order to keep patients safe, the state must prioritize these regulations. When hospitals continue to ignore nurse staffing ratios, the state should be able to fine those facilities so that they fully understand the importance of staffing their hospitals appropriately to keep patients safe. I appreciate the support that SB 227 earned in the Legislature and look forward to Gov. Newsom realizing the importance of this measure for all Californians.”
The proposal is co-sponsored by SEIU California, SEIU Local 121RN and United Nurses Associations of California / Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC / UHCP).
SB 227 is also supported by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, California Labor Federation, California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, California Professional Firefighters, California School Employees Association, California School Nurses Organization, California Teamsters Public Affairs Council, Congress of California Seniors, Consumer Attorneys of California, Engineers and Scientists of California Local 20, International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 13 and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
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