Health
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
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
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.
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- Written by: Adventist Health
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – Adventist Health Clear Lake is proud to introduce a new service focused on Lake County’s littlest patients.
Pediatric physical therapy provides expert support to children with special needs, disabilities or disorders and is now offered in Hidden Valley Lake.
Physical therapy may be prescribed for a child because of a congenital condition, developmental delay, hospitalization or surgery.
Because children’s bodies and minds are unique, physical therapists need different techniques and approaches to serve them.
Treatment options include exercises and activities to increase muscle strength, neuromuscular re-education, balance training, gait training and more.
The physical therapy clinic in Hidden Valley Lake has specialized equipment, private spaces and a highly-trained physical therapist dedicated to helping a child reach his or her goals.
Alexa Yancey, PT, DPT, has a passion for helping children live to the fullest and is responsible for bringing the service to Lake County.
Yancey received her doctorate of physical therapy at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland, and has pursued additional training in pediatric physical therapy. She joined the Adventist Health Clear Lake team in 2017.
“Pediatric physical therapy starts with an assessment of a child’s needs, setting appropriate goals and creating an individualized plan for treatment in the clinic and at home,” Yancey explained.
She trains parents and caregivers so that children can be supported at home, school and while spending time with friends. “I love hearing stories about how my patients begin to thrive when they have the support and tools they need,” Yancey said.
Yancey was inspired to start the pediatric physical therapy service after talking with parents about the burden of travelling outside the county, sometimes multiple times a week, to access specialized care for their children.
“Starting physical therapy at the right time and regular sessions is important as children quickly grow and change,” Yancey said. “Having this service close to home means more children will have access to care.”
Pediatric physical therapy requires a physician referral and is covered by most major insurance plans.
The Adventist Health Clear Lake Physical Therapy Center in Hidden Valley is located at 18990 Coyote Valley Drive, Suite 11, and may be reached by calling 707-987-9046.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
“This accomplishment demonstrates our dedication, as a local Medi-Cal managed care plan, to ensure our members receive the highest quality care possible,” CEO Elizabeth Gibboney said following the announcement last week,
The NCQA seal is a nationally recognized symbol of quality.
Partnership HealthPlan of California, or PHC, decided to seek NCQA accreditation because of its rigorous standards and emphasis on delivery of high-quality health care.
Interim status is awarded to organizations with processes and structure in place to meet expectations for consumer protection and quality improvement.
PHC will undergo an additional review within 18 months to demonstrate it has executed those processes effectively.
NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance.
NCQA’s Web site contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more informed health care choices.
PHC is a nonprofit community-based health care organization that contracts with the state to administer Medi-Cal benefits. PHC provides quality health care to approximately 540,500 Medi-Cal members.
Beginning in Solano County in 1994, PHC now provides services to 14 Northern California counties – Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Marin, Mendocino, Modoc, Napa, Shasta, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Trinity and Yolo.