If your New Year’s resolutions include being more healthy, here are some tips for staying well over the flu season:
https://www.sunset.com/…/we…/flu-prevention-resistance-tips/
It’s not too late to get your flu shot! Give us a call at (707) 964-1251. Here’s to a happy and healthy New Year! #behealthywithus
A community forum on labor and delivery services at Mendocino Coast District Hospital will be held this Friday, January 3, at 6 pm at Fort Bragg Town Hall, 363 N. Main Street.
The meeting will be facilitated by Dr. Zoe Berna, and Dr. Robin Serrahn will be the main presenter. All interested members of our community are invited to attend.
We will be closed on Wednesday, January 1, to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. We will be open our regular hours the rest of the week, including New Year’s Eve.
If you need us when the clinic is closed, or any time, just call us at (707) 964-1251 and the on call clinician will return your call.
Happy New Year to all of you from all of us at MCC!
Most of us would feel so much better if we worked less, ate less, drank less, slept more, turned off our electronic devices once in a while, and spent more time with the people we love.
Simply put, sometimes it’s easier for us to engage in unhealthy behaviors than it is to start the hard work of improving our health. It can feel overwhelming to tackle our medical or emotional problems, and since none of us likes to feel as though our lives are not going well, we can opt for unhealthy coping mechanisms. The trouble with that is that rather than solving our problems, at times our coping mechanisms prolong them.
I know my saying this won’t necessarily make people pull out their phones and make an appointment with a behavioral health provider, but I just want to plant this seed: wouldn’t it be powerful if you could let go of the past emotional baggage we all carry and advance to a new understanding of yourself?
As a primary care provider who works in behavioral health, I have seen patients get to a place where they felt happier, more relaxed, and more comfortable in their own lives. Seeking behavioral therapy is a courageous choice. I tell my patients, “This could be a hard year. Transition is often hard. It takes focus to dig into the deep issues that affect our lives. But ultimately, I think you’ll have a deeper understanding of yourself.”
Even when people are willing to do the work, the barriers to seeking mental health treatment can loom large. The stigma around mental illness can be difficult to overcome, both the opinions of others and people’s own opinions of what it means to be in counseling or taking medication.
Sometimes seeing the benefits of change is not enough for us to overcome our reluctance to seek treatment, to address our emotional lives. The status quo can feel safe, even if it isn’t ideal. In my own life, I try to reduce stress and live a healthier, more authentic life and help my patients do the same.
What does it mean to try to live an authentic life? It can be the hardest thing we do. It means living a full life while being true to yourself. Each of us has to figure out what this means because it is different for each individual. Unfortunately, society doesn’t make this self-discovery process easy.
When I work with behavioral health patients, I listen to their issues, share my knowledge about medication and pathways to counseling. Patients must find answers for themselves. We can talk about the tools for self-discovery, and we can discuss how to find a more centered place, but patients need to recognize this is work for them to do. The goal is, perhaps for all of us, finding a more centered place.
Whether patients suffer from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychological stress, it’s up to them to decide what to do and how to live. Sometimes people believe medication is the best way to help themselves, when what they may need is counseling. Although medication can be life-changing, the patient’s relationship with their provider is typically the true gateway to healing and understanding.
When it comes down to it, we are all responsible for our own health, but as a community, we have to come together to accomplish community health. That’s what we try to do every day at Mendocino Coast Clinics. As healthcare providers, we are here for support, but we can’t do the work for others. My goal as a provider is to help each of my patients feel as healthy as possible while trying to live an authentic life.
If you’d like to take a first step in this direction, consider scheduling an appointment at a community health center like Mendocino Coast Clinics. We do not turn anyone away on the basis of whether you can afford care. We accept patients whether you have insurance or not. If you think we can help you, give us a call. If you think your health is in jeopardy, give us a call. If you want to heal, let’s do this. We are here to connect with you.
James Thomas is a physician assistant at Mendocino Coast Clinics, a local, non-profit, federally qualified health center offering medical, dental and behavioral health care to people in the coastal communities of Mendocino County.
We will be closed on December 24 and 25 so our caring, dedicated staff can celebrate the holidays with their loved ones.
Even when the clinic is closed, we are there for you 24/7/36!. Just call us at (707) 964-1251 and the clinician on call will return your call as soon as possible.
Whether you are observing Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, the winter solstice, or another festival, we wish you and your family a happy and healthy celebration!
Community Health Centers like MCC strengthen communities and save lives. Congress must act by December 20 or we risk losing long-term, stable funding.
We are pleased that key Congressional committees have reached an agreement on offsets to pay for a five-year extension of funding for CHCs and essential workforce programs. With an upcoming election year, a $23 trillion national debt, and impeachment proceedings, 2020 will be a challenging year for Congress. We must do our part to make sure Congress passes this funding so that health centers and patients are not put at risk.
Please contact your Members of Congress today and ask them to support Community Health Center funding:
https://www.hcadvocacy.org/takeaction/
Thank you for helping us to help our patients!
Just a reminder that Covered California’s Open Enrollment period runs through January 31, 2020! If you select your health insurance plan by December 15, 2019, your coverage will start on January 1, 2020. If you choose a plan from December 16 to January 31, your coverage will start on February 1, 2020.
Not sure which plan to choose? Make an appointment with one of our highly trained Patient Advocates, who can help you select the plan that’s right for you. There is no charge for this confidential service. Call (707) 964-1251 to make an appointment.
We will be closing at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, December 10, for our annual holiday party. We will be open for our regular business hours the rest of the week.
If you need us while the clinic is closed, just call (707) 964-1251 and the on call clinician will return your call. We are always there for you, 24/7/365!
Cerraremos a la 1:00 pm del martes 10 de diciembre para nuestra fiesta anual. Estaremos abiertos durante nuestro horario de atención habitual el resto de la semana.
Si nos necesita mientras la clínica está cerrada, simplemente llame al (707) 964-1251 y el médico de guardia le devolverá la llamada. ¡Siempre estamos ahí para usted, 24/7/365!
Tonight’s the night!
We’ll be at Interior this evening for our fun and fabulous Healthy for the Holidays event! Come by and get a free blood pressure check or a free vision test and spin the wheel for prizes. Nibble on some healthy snacks and get tips for staying healthy and happy over the holiday season! See you at Interior, 224 East Redwood, starting at 5:00!
