RCMS News and Events
Stay Connected with RCMS
Scroll down to see the latest updates and click the button below to subscribe to The Pulse to get regular updates from RCMS directly to your email inbox. |
Stay Connected with RCMS
Scroll down to see the latest updates and click the button below to subscribe to The Pulse to get regular updates from RCMS directly to your email inbox. |
![]() If you missed the live broadcast, you can catch the reply here: https://m.soundcloud.com/kgua/rcms-covid-update-ara-chakarabarti-and-brb-britell-121120 ![]() COVID-19 cases are on the rise in our community, in the County and across the nation. RCMS reminds all of our community members to continue with practices such as wearing a mask, physical distancing, regular handwashing, disinfecting high-touch surfaces, and avoid gatherings with those outside of your household. Asymptomatic Testing RCMS is working to bring asymptomatic testing (testing for people without any symptoms) events back to our community and are finalizing details with Mendocino County. We will inform the community as soon as dates and locations are set. In the meantime, you may schedule free asymptomatic testing at OptumServe in Ukiah or Santa Rosa via this link: https://lhi.care/covidtesting Exposure to Someone Who Has Tested Positive If you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, the Mendocino County Public Health Department guideline is that you should self-quarantine for 14 days. If you develop symptoms within those 14 days you will be tested as symptomatic patients. Otherwise, you can be tested on the 15th day to be cleared. If You Are Experiencing Symptoms If you are experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms (i.e., fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste/smell, vomiting/diarrhea) please call RCMS to schedule an appointment (707) 884-4005. This is a critical time in the pandemic and we need everyone to do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19. Be well and be safe. We are in this together and we will get through this together. ![]() As COVID19 spreads, Redwood Coast Medical Services (RCMS) continues to provide you medical care, with protocols to keep you and our staff safe. We continue to have two “non respiratory clinics” – the Sea Watch location in Gualala and our clinic in Point Arena. We continue to do Primary and Urgent Care visits in our main Gualala clinic. Part of the check-in process at all clinics is to take your temperature and ask you COVID19 screening questions BEFORE you enter the buildings. If you have any concerning symptoms (even if you are coming to the clinic for other reasons), you will be placed in special rooms in the main Gualala clinic. Medical staff might enter rooms wearing gowns/masks/face shields. This is for everyone’s protection. With thoughtful rooming and proper personal protective equipment, we can continue to provide you the medical care you need. If you are ill with respiratory symptoms, we might shift the focus of your visit to that, and put off other concerns for a future visit. If your symptoms are concerning for COVID19, you may be tested and potentially isolated to home until test results return, in accordance with Health Department requirements. We recognize that isolation and quarantine can be hard for many reasons. We are grateful to our community and patients for their ongoing cooperation to keep all of us safe. If you need medical care, please call us at (707) 884-4005 to schedule an appointment. ![]() View the play back of the meeting by clicking here. *A fifteen minute preview will be available. Please download the entire file to view the full recording. Redwood Coast Medical Services (RCMS) will host their next virtual Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 6:30 PM. Ara Chakrabarti, RCMS CEO will provide an update on operation and finances and Barbara Brittell will provide updates on COVID-19, flu shots and other timely information. The meeting will include a time for community questions The meeting will be held via the Zoom platform. Please register at this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iHWoh2GKRzSNWTFTNPPJxg ![]() RCMS CEO, Ara Chakrabarti, will be a guest on Peggy’s Place this Friday, November 6 at 9:00 AM. The show will replay at 1:00 PM. You can tune in at 88.3 FM or listen via the internet by going to http://kgua.org/ and clicking on the “Listen Live” button. ![]() Please Note New Procedures – Appointments Required Redwood Coast Medical Services (RCMS) is continuing to collaborate with the Mendocino County Health Department and UCSF to perform ongoing free COVID-19 Screenings for asymptomatic patients (people with no COVID-19 symptoms). Because weather/rain will make our drive through events difficult going forward, we have changed to a scheduled COVID-19 screening system. Our next screening events are: Sunday, November 8, 2020 10:00 am to 2:00 pm (by appointment only) RCMS Gualala Clinic Triage Tent, 46900 Ocean Drive, Gualala – park in the parking lot and walk to the Triage tent at your appointed time Monday, November 9, 2020 11:00 am to 1:30 pm (by appointment only) Fort Ross School, 30600 Seaview Rd – driver/passengers will be swabbed in their cars To make an appointment, click on the link for the date/location you want to be screened at (above). We are not currently making appointments for this asymptomatic screening event by phone, so please do not call the clinic for a screening appointment. All screening for patients without symptoms are scheduled only through the above links. If you need help with the website/link, we ask that you ask a friend or family member to help schedule you on the website. If you are SICK WITH SYMPTOMS, then do call the clinic for a medical appointment – and you will be seen in Urgent Care. Results Like our past screenings, tests will be run at UCSF. You will receive a phone call only if you test positive for COVID-19. If you receive no phone call by November 18, you are negative. You will not receive a call if you are negative. Thank you for your patience as we trial this new screening method. We hope it will go smoothly, and we can offer future events in different locations around our South Coast community. Why Get Tested: Please be aware that COVID-19 is on the rise in Mendocino and Sonoma Counties. Testing events such as this allow us to locate and isolate/quarantine asymptomatic positive cases and their contacts, and is ultimately very protective of the community. It also allows the Health Department to monitor the prevalence of the infection in our community. Thank you for getting screened! ![]() Mendonoma Health Alliance is partnering with Mendocino County Sheriff for a community Prescription Take-Back Event in Point Arena on Wednesday, November 4th, 2020. You can safely drive-thru & drop off all your unused or expired prescriptions and nonprescription medicines from 2pm - 4pm. It's important that medications don't end up in the trash or flushed down the toilet. Drugs can be very toxic for people and wildlife, even in low doses. Come to the parking lot of Point Arena High School right in front of the gymnasium. For more information, please visit mendonomahealth.org or call (707) 412-3176 x102. Tell a friend! Prescription Take-Back Mendonoma Health Alliance & Mendocino County Sheriff Dept. November 4, 2020 2:00p - 4:00p Point Arena High School parking lot in front of the gym. More info at: mendonomahealth.org (707) 412-3176 x102 ![]() Mendocino County Public Health Department will conduct another free COVID-19 screening this Saturday in Point Arena. It is first-come, first-serve testing – no pre-registration required. Saturday, October 24, 2020 Point Arena Veteran’s Hall 451 School Street, Point Arena 95468 9:30 am – 12:00 pm (or until swabs run out) Testing is free and open to the public. Please note that RCMS is not involved or coordinating this activity. This event is managed by Mendocino County Public Health Department, please read the flyer for information. ![]() RCMS will be hosting two socially distanced walk up/no appointment FLU SHOT CLINICS. WHY GET IMMUNIZED: During the COVID19 pandemic, reducing the risk of getting the flu is essential. Not only will this reduce the risk to your own health and that of your family (by preventing the risk of back to back flu an COVID19); it will also reduce the burden of illness seen in medical centers/hospitals; and reduce the confusion about which illness a patient has (COVID19 vs. influenza) – especially when testing for both illnesses are limited. WHERE ARE THE CLINICS: Fort Ross School in Timber Cove, 30600 Seaview Rd. Manchester Community Center, 43970 Crispin Rd. Enter on one side of the building, exit on the other side. (Get your shot in the middle!) WHEN: Saturday, October 24. Fort Ross School 10:00am – 11:00am and Manchester Community Center 2:00pm – 3:30pm (or until we run out of shots). WHO CAN COME: Anyone aged 18 and older. (Children ages 6 months to 18 years are also strongly encouraged to get flu shots. Please call to make them an appointment for their shot at RCMS: 707-884-4005.) COST: There is no charge for the flu shots, but a $20 donation is suggested. DO WE OFFER THE HIGH-DOSE FLU SHOT FOR PERSONS 65 and OLDER? No. If you would like to get the high-dose flu shot, you will need to go to a commercial pharmacy. RCMS is unable to offer these, and our local pharmacies currently do not have any. DOES THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES (ACIP) RECOMMEND THE HIGH DOSE FLU VACCINE OVER THE STANDARD FLU VACCINE FOR PERSONS OVER 65 YEARS OLD? As we age, the body loses its ability to develop a strong immune response after getting a flu shot; theoretically, a shot that delivers a higher antigen dose can boost an older person’s immune response. However, ACIP has not recommended the high dose flu vaccine over the traditional flu vaccine for persons 65 and older. Therefore, if you are over 65, and unable to get a high dose flu vaccine, it is acceptable to get the standard dose vaccine. |
News & EventsLatest news and information on upcoming events at RCMS Archives
July 2024
Categories |