Health
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In light of the multi-state measles outbreak, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait is encouraging preventive measures and reminding everyone that vaccination is the best protection against measles.
Measles is a highly infectious, airborne disease that typically begins with fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, and within a few days a red rash appears, usually first on the face and then spreading downward to the rest of the body.
Vaccination is the most important strategy to prevent measles, according to Tait.
Two doses of measles-containing vaccine (MMR vaccine) are more than 99 percent effective in preventing measles.
Measles vaccines have been available in the United States since 1963, and two doses have been recommended since 1989.
If you are unsure of your vaccination status, check with your doctor to have a test to check for measles immunity or to receive vaccination.
For individuals that are unable to obtain the MMR vaccine through their medical provider and/or pharmacy, Public Health has a small supply of State purchased MMR vaccine for individuals that qualify:
• 12 months of age and older;
• Unvaccinated or needing a booster.
The vaccine cost has been waived due to the epidemic; however, there is a $9 administration fee.
If you would like to schedule an appointment for MMR vaccination, please contact Lake County Public Health at 707-263-1090 or 1-800-794-9291.
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UKIAH, Calif. – Local Cardiologist David R. Ploss, M.D. has been appointed as Ukiah Valley Medical Center’s new chief medical officer.
As UVMC’s senior physician leader, Dr. Ploss will help design, implement and ultimately oversee the organization’s clinical quality, patient safety and performance improvement initiatives.
“It is exciting to have Dr. Ploss be part of our executive team during this crucial time at UVMC as we expand our ER/ICU and Trauma Center, form and build on relationships with community physicians, and pave the way for the future of health care in Mendocino County,” said Gwen Matthews, president and chief executive officer of UVMC.
“Dr. Ploss’ impressive credentials and experience, as well as his passion for excellence, will bring great value to our executive leadership team,” said Matthews. “I would like to thank Dr. Marvin Trotter for his service as chief medical officer. We have made great strides in improving physician relations and patient care under his leadership. We are excited to see how Dr. Ploss can build on those successes.”
Dr. Ploss is a cardiologist with 20 years of experience. He earned his medical degree in 1987 from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Mass.
After completing a residency in internal medicine at University of California San Francisco he went on to complete a fellowship in cardiology at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. He then completed a second fellowship in cardiac electrophysiology at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Dr. Ploss left his vibrant practice of the Pacific Heart Group in Eureka to join the Adventist Heart Institute in Ukiah in 2014 and has since then grown the practice to include locations in Willits and Garberville.
While a member of the medical community in Humboldt County, he served as chief of staff and director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at St Joseph Hospital.
Also, in tandem with the local community health clinic system and the local hospitals, he helped to develop and direct a community congestive heart failure clinic.
Prior to this, Dr. Ploss was in Dayton, Ohio where he developed the cardiac electrophysiology services at the Dayton Heart Center.
Dr. Ploss brings with him years of excellence and experience in medical practice as well as physician leadership.
He is an active member of the Heart Rhythm Society, American College of Cardiology and the California Medical Association.
He is interested in the arts and local politics and previously served as president of the Redwood Art Association.
Dr. Ploss believes that learning and leveraging his colleagues’ knowledge and talents is the key to providing excellent patient care to the community. “I’m honored and excited to take on this new role. I look forward to working with my peers and the executive team to continue to improve our quality of care to make UVMC the best place to work and get care.”
When not seeing patients, Dr. Ploss enjoys traveling, local politics and the arts.
Adventist Heart Institute is an integrated heart center made up of a team of experienced cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons who provide a coordinated continuum of care to patients in Lake, Mendocino and Napa counties. To learn more, visit www.AdventistHeart.org .
To schedule an appointment, please call 707-463-2400.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake's offers the Circle for Life Challenging Illness support group to community members.
The group meets from 2 to 3:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of every month at the hospital, 15630 18th Ave., Building F (lower parking lot).
If you are someone who is suffering from a life-altering medical illness or injury – such as cancer, chronic pain, systemic disease, traumatic injury or other illness – you may want to join this circle.
The twice-monthly meetings also may include specialists and educators presenting on topics related to emotional and physical aspects of coping with illness.
For more information, contact Colleen Winters, LCSW at 707-967-5791.
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UKIAH, Calif. – James O’Dorisio, M.D., a UCSF School of Medicine and Stanford University Medical School trained vascular and thoracic surgeon who has been practicing in Ukiah for the past seven years, has now joined the panel of physicians at Ukiah Valley Medical Center’s Advanced Wound Center.
Dr. O’Dorisio began sending his patients to the AWC and was so pleased with the results and care that he spent more time in Ukiah, and eventually joined the physician panel at the center.
Dr. O’Dorisio is excited to join the center. “The Advanced Wound Center accelerates healing of complicated wounds that need a higher level evaluation and intensified care. It takes a team effort to heal these wounds.”
He added, “I see patients in the wound clinic once a week, concentrating on evaluations of vascular compromised wounds. We are able to see dramatic changes right away. The majority of referrals I receive focus on arterial and venous disease.”
In addition to the wound clinic, O’Dorisio also sees patients for treatment of veins and all aspects of vascular and thoracic surgical conditions.
He hopes that by expanding his skills with advanced wound care he will be able to provide the best vascular care for his patients.
Dr. O’Dorisio is excited by the level of commitment to the community he feels from the providers at UVMC.
“The hospital is very supportive – providing state-of-the-art vascular imaging, access to out-patient procedures and advanced minimally invasive surgical operations, all of which contribute to excellent care and outcomes,” he said.
The Advanced Wound Center at Ukiah Valley Medical Center is the only comprehensive wound care center in Mendocino County specializing in treating slow healing and challenging wounds, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
HBOT is a therapy used to accelerate the healing process during which a patient breathes 100 percent oxygen while relaxing in a pressurized chamber.
The higher concentration of oxygen accelerates healing by helping the blood supply more oxygen to organs and tissues in the body.
Individuals who have health issues, such as diabetes, can’t always deliver oxygen the way they should, hence affecting the way their bodies heal wounds.
The wound treatment team, including physicians, nurses, and technicians, provide invaluable care for patients to prevent the loss of limbs and reduce the incidence of recurring wounds.
The Advanced Wound Center is located at 415 Hospital Drive, Ukiah.
For more information call 707-467-5230 or visit www.uvmc.org/wound .