As our community moves toward reopening, we are opening our clinic to more in person visits. We are still seeing patients by phone and video, and our lobbies remain closed. But as of today, patients being seen in person will check in with our friendly reception staff at the lobby windows facing the parking lot on the east side of the building.

There are stickers on the sidewalk showing spacing for social distancing, and every patient will be provided with a mask upon check in. He or she will return to the car. When the provider is ready, the patient will be brought directly into the exam room by a side door, and will exit the same way.

Looking for a great place to work?

We are looking for a Medical Assistant to join our busy, friendly team. The Medical Assistant prepares exam rooms, collects and updates patient information, takes vitals, and performs medical procedures as directed by the providers.

Following the successful completion of the 90 day introductory period, MCC employees who work at least 20 hours a week are eligible for the following benefits:

MCC has something to brag about!

Our Board Member, Clare Bercot Zwerling, and her husband Phil received a special Gardens to Bragg About award last week for their beautiful, bee-friendly garden, chosen for its wide variety of pollinator plants as well as its exceptional beauty.

The garden is a real labor of love for Clare and Phil, who moved into their house two years ago and set about changing its neglected lawn into something spectacular which also attracts and feeds bees. Bees of all sorts pollinate approximately 75% of the fruit, nuts and vegetables grown in the United States, and one out of every four bites of food people take is courtesy of bee pollination.

Knowing the importance of these little pollinators, Fort Bragg was designated the first Bee City USA in California on June 19, 2016.

Thank you to Clare and Phil for making our town more beautiful and more bee-friendly!

As our City and County begin the reopening process, MCC is beginning the process of reopening the clinic to in person care.

We are already seeing patients in person for chiropractor and acupuncture appointments, as well as prenatal and postpartum services and at our pediatrics clinic. We are making sure it’s safe for our patients to come and see us by carefully following all infection control guidelines. Patients with in clinic appointments will have their temperature taken, sanitize their hands, and be provided with a mask for their appointment. Our lobbies remain closed, so patients will check in, be screened, and return to their cars until the provider is ready to see them. A medical assistant will escort the patient straight into the exam room.

Congratulations to Madison Emma Grimes on her graduation from Mendocino High School, Class of 2020!

Madison is the daughter of MCC’s Board Chair, Kelly Grimes. Madison is planning to attend San Jose State University and will be studying environmental and marine sciences. Here’s to a bright and happy future, Madison! We are so proud of you!

#mccgrads #classof2020

Now more than ever, having health insurance is critical.

During this pandemic, thousands of people are affected by income loss, reduced hours and layoffs, leaving many without health insurance coverage. If you’ve been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, you may qualify for coverage through Covered California, even if you were not eligible before, or your costs may be lower. ??????? ?????????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??????????? ????? ??? ??? ?? ????.

If you experience what Covered California calls a “qualifying life event”, you can enroll in a health plan through Covered California outside the open-enrollment period. People who already have a plan through Covered California who experience a qualifying life event can change their coverage or choose a new plan.

We are delighted to announce that we have brought back acupuncture and chiropractor services! Welcome back to Dr. Jim Young and acupuncturists Jason Moore and Bess Donley!

Our thanks go out to Zaida at the Wellness Center and the team at Sequoia Circle for getting the new workflows and patient schedules in place to make this happen. Our patients are thrilled to see these providers again!

Lobbies remain closed at all MCC sites, but we are slowly increasing “in person” appointments.

Here are some updates on what we’ve been up to lately:

Did you know that MCC’s behavioral health department is ?????? ???% ?? ??? ?????? ?? ???????? that they saw in February, the month before this all started? Shout out to our therapists – now more than EVER they are meeting the needs of our patients. Many of us are stressed and anxious these days. Thank you to our BH team for helping our patients to get through this challenging time.

?????????? ??? ??? ???! Behavioral Health is conducting ALL of their visits via telephone or video. Medical at South Street is doing 87% of their visits virtually. The South Street lobbies remain closed and we are only seeing emergency dental patients. We are seeing as many women’s health patients as possible by telemedicine at our Sequoia Circle location, and are carefully following all guidelines for in person appointments, both at Sequoia Circle and at our Pediatrics site. Stay tuned for news about more in person services at MCC in the near future. We are looking forward to seeing you again!

Fort Bragg, CA – In response to the recent closing of the Labor and Delivery service at Mendocino Coast District Hospital, Mendocino Coast Clinics has partnered with MCHC Health Centers to make it easier for coastal patients to deliver babies at the hospital in Ukiah.

Mendocino Coast Clinics Executive Director Lucresha Renteria said, “We have worked with MCHC for years—we know them and we trust them. They hold to the same high standards we do. If our patients choose to deliver in Ukiah, we’ll facilitate the transfer of care at 28 weeks, or about two-thirds of the way through the pregnancy. Then, once the baby is born, patients can return home for care here at MCC, where we can care for both mother and baby.”

In collaboration with their medical team, all pregnant patients receiving prenatal care at Mendocino Coast Clinics create a birthing plan once they reach 20 weeks’ gestation. Then, according to that plan, once the patient reaches 28 weeks, Mendocino Coast Clinics transfers the patient’s medical records to the MCHC provider who will assume care and oversee the baby’s delivery. For patients prefer who prefer to transfer care to any other provider, Mendocino Coast Clinics will send medical records to the patient’s provider of choice.

Patients who transfer to MCHC Health Centers at 28 weeks’ gestation must travel to Willits or Ukiah for most prenatal exams; however, some care can be provided via telephone during the COVID-19 crisis. The MCHC providers deliver the babies at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley. For MCC patients who need financial assistance to travel outside Fort Bragg for prenatal care, the Mendocino Coast Healthcare District has provided funding; closing the Labor and Delivery Department was a difficult decision and ensuring that pregnant patients have access to quality care is vital. Mendocino Coast Clinics administers the funding, which is intended to help patients who may struggle with transportation, temporary housing, or other costs for prenatal care or at the time of delivery in Ukiah.

Renteria said, “We began working on this transfer agreement with MCHC months ago to allow patients to maintain their care close to home for as long as possible, and to relieve any stress associated with trying to find a provider who would accept them as a new patient part way through their pregnancy.”

MCHC Health Centers CEO Scott McFarland echoed Renteria’s sentiments. “Our goal is to provide the best possible care to people in Mendocino County,” he said.

MCHC’s women’s health service is called Care for Her. Care for Her Medical Director Dr. Karen Crabtree said, “Our doctors and certified nurse-midwives are enthusiastic about helping coastal patients deliver babies in a way that is right for them. The Care for Her approach is based on listening closely and educating patients, so the birthing experience meets patients’ needs, hopes, and expectations.”

Mendocino Coast Clinics has provided prenatal care to women on the Mendocino Coast for 15 years and will continue to do so as long as they serve the coastal community.

We are closed today, May 25 in honor of Memorial Day. We will reopen tomorrow, May 26.

If you need us while we are closed, call (707) 964-1251 and the provider on call will return your call.

Estamos cerrados hoy, 25 de mayo, en honor del Día Conmemorativo. Volveremos a abrir mañana, 26 de mayo.