Like most health centers right now, Mendocino Coast Clinics (MCC) is doing everything possible to provide top-quality health care while preparing for a potential surge in patient visits caused by the COVID-19 epidemic.

“As of today, we still have no confirmed cases here on the coast or anywhere in Mendocino County, but common sense tells us it’s coming,” said MCC Executive Director Lucresha Renteria. “At this time, we are providing essential MCC services. We have modified the seating in all MCC lobbies to allow for social distancing. This is an evolving situation, so things will change. Effective Thursday, March 19, the dental clinic will reduce services and behavioral health appointments will move to telephone visits as much as possible. We will continue to evaluate other uses of telehealth and telephone visits for other MCC services.”

Renteria asks that patients with fever, cough, and/or trouble breathing who want to see an MCC medical provider call us first at 964-1251. This allows nurses to meet patients in their cars rather than having them come into the health center where they could infect others. It also allows staff to use protective gear such as gloves, masks, and gowns before interacting with the patient. MCC has a limited number of testing kits and are evaluating patients to test those who meet the criteria. No patient will be denied testing due to inability to pay.

MCC is dedicated to serving all people on the coast, including the most vulnerable populations such as the elderly and the homeless. To do so, it is imperative that healthcare workers remain healthy. Renteria urges people to comply with Public Health directives to limit face-to-face contact with others as much as possible, to respect social distancing, to engage in hand washing and other hygiene recommendations like coughing into tissues, and to continue to stay informed as the situation evolves.

For the latest Mendocino County Public Health coronavirus updates, visit www.mendocinocounty.org/community/novel-coronavirus. To schedule a medical appointment at MCC, call 964-1251.

Click here to visit our COVID-19 page

Fort Bragg, CA – Mendocino Coast Clinics (MCC) now provides targeted case management for patients with Hepatitis C, offering treatment that can result in a cure. Through its staffing and coordination of the Coastal Street Medicine program, MCC has been able to identify more patients infected with the virus, a virus that causes liver inflammation and often, liver cancer. Jennifer Martin is just such a patient. During the 1980s, Martin tested positive for Hepatitis C but opted not to seek treatment, having seen others endure the months-long course of injections and oral medications that caused intense, ever-present flu-like symptoms, including fever, aches and pains, headache, chills, and nausea. Over time, people sometimes became anemic and after all that, only a third of those who could tolerate the treatment were cured.

Then everything changed. A new treatment was developed, and it has revolutionized how medical professionals treat Hep C patients. Today, patients take daily pills for eight, twelve, or sixteen weeks (depending on their medical history and response to the treatment) and after that, their viral load is often undetectable. Undetectable means the virus is no longer assaulting the liver, and patients with an undetectable viral load cannot spread Hep C to others. The main side effects of the new treatment include headaches, nausea and fatigue, but they are not as intense and can be addressed by drinking more water, taking the medication with food, and taking the medication before going to bed.

MCC Street Medicine nurse Bill Simon explained how important it is for people to get tested, so they can get treated. “About half of the people who have hepatitis C don’t know it and the liver is extremely important. It filters the blood. Without a functioning liver, you eventually become poisoned from the inside out.” The Mendocino County AIDS and Viral Hepatitis Network (MCAVHN) offers free testing through the Street Medicine program. Otherwise, people can go to their primary care provider for testing. It is a quick, finger-stick blood test with results available in about five minutes. Simon said he understands that there may be a stigma attached to the illness and that for those with a stable address, pharmacies can mail medications in non-descript envelopes “so no one has to know you have hepatitis.”

The Hep C virus (HCV) is acquired by exposure to infected blood, usually through needle sticks, unprotected sex, hemodialysis, or blood transfusions before 1990. Infected mothers can also pass it to unborn children in utero.  The people at highest risk include IV drug users, people born between 1945-1965 (before blood for medical transfusions was tested), those with HIV, and those who have been incarcerated. Simon recommends that people who test positive for Hep C inform their sexual partners.

Not all hepatitis is created equal. There are three main types: A, B and C. For Hepatitis C, there are seven genotypes and dozens of subtypes. The combination of genotype and subtype determines the course of treatment. Also, it is important to know whether someone has more than one type of hepatitis, because some treatments for Hep C can worsen Hep A and B. And it is important to get tested if you fear re-exposure because people can get re-infected with hepatitis. In Mendocino County, the most common types of Hepatitis C are 1a, 1b, and 3.

During treatment, patients meet with their medical provider regularly for blood tests and other follow up. At the Wednesday Street Medicine clinic at the Hospitality Center on Franklin Street in Fort Bragg, Simon meets with Hep C patients to deliver medications, review progress, and teach patients how to manage side effects and take care of themselves. This is where he met Jennifer Martin.

Martin was nervous about seeking treatment for hepatitis, but said she was more frightened of dying from complications of liver failure. After her three-month post-treatment blood test indicated her viral load was undetectable, she was thrilled. She said, “Wow, no more Hep C. I can’t believe it. It’s great. I’ve added a few more years to my life.”

Once the liver is damaged, which can take decades, symptoms can include easy bleeding and bruising, fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), dark urine, itchy skin, ascites (fluid in the abdomen), weight loss, confusion and drowsiness, slurred speech, and spiderlike blood vessels appearing on the skin.

Simon said, “If you or someone you love has these symptoms, seek medical treatment. The success rate for Hep C treatment is about 98 percent.”

The Coastal Street Medicine program is a collaborative effort, with Mendocino Coast Clinics, Mendocino Coast Hospitality Center, and Adventist Health working together to bring basic medical services to homeless men and women in our community. The service is free and confidential.

Photo Credit: Patient Jennifer Martin and Nurse Bill Simon, taken by Jendi Coursey.

MCC is honored to be chosen Large Business of the Year by the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center! We enjoyed a gala dinner and award presentation last night at the Friends of The Ledford House Restaurant. Our 25th year is turning out to be a banner year! #bestcareanywhere

In recognition of her years of exemplary work, leadership and caring for our community, Mendocino Coast Clinics (MCC) Executive Director Lucresha Renteria will be honored as a 2019 Rural Health Rock Star by the Family Medicine Education for Mendocino County at their annual fundraiser on June 15.

Having started as an MCC interpreter in 1992 before the organization became an independent non-profit health center in 1994, Renteria’s responsibilities grew as the clinic grew. She became the director of administrative services in 2004 and executive director on January 1, 2016.

Renteria has long been a community advocate for bilingual/bi-cultural services, as well as for the community’s children and families. In 2004, she was appointed to the First 5 Mendocino Commission, where she served as chairperson for six years. In 2007, she was presented with the Making a Difference for Women award from the local chapter of the Soroptimist International Club. Renteria was a member of the inaugural class of Clinic Leadership Institute – Emerging Leaders, graduating from the program in 2009.

Renteria currently serves as the chair for the Community Health Resource Network, as well as the 2019 chairperson for the Special Populations and Rural Committee of the California Primary Care Association. She is also a board member for the Mendocino Coast Children’s Fund and the Health and Human Services Advisory Committee.

“I am honored to have been chosen as FMEMC’s advocate/leader rock star this year. We live in a wonderful rural community and it is up to all of us to take care of one another,” Renteria said.

FMEMC presents five awards each year to standout individuals in the following categories: advocate/leader, physician, midlevel provider, allied health provider, and complementary medicine provider. The FMEMC fundraiser where the awardees will be announced, “Music is Medicine,” includes a farm-to-table dinner catered by Black Dog Farm and a lively concert under the musical direction of well-known local musician Alex DeGrassi. It will be held at Mendocino College’s Center Theatre in partnership with Fowler Subaru on June 15. Tickets are available online at musicismedicine.brownpapertickets.com.

FMEMC is a community-based, non-profit organization that serves as an independent advisory board to the family medicine residency program starting at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley this fall. FMEMC also improves local health care through its support of the street medicine program and local nursing. For more information about FMEMC, visit www.fmemc.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fmemc. To learn more about Rural Health Rocks, visit www.ruralhealthrocks.com.

Last night, MCC’s Executive Director Lucresha Renteria received an official Proclamation from the City of Fort Bragg commemorating the clinic’s 25th anniversary and recognizing our service to the community. Here’s to the next 25 years! #bestcareanywhere

We’re seeing stars at MCC – Rural Health Rock Stars, that is!

We are proud to announce that our amazing Executive Director, Lucresha Renteria, won the 2019 Healthcare Advocate Leader Rural Health Rock Star award for her exemplary leadership and service to our community:

MCC was well represented in the nominations for these county-wide awards. In addition to our winner, Lucresha, these staff were nominated as well:

Albert Anderson, Patient Advocate
Jenna Breton, FNP
Lawrence Goldyn, MD, Medical Director
Linnea Matthews, NP
Bill Simon, RN
James Thomas, PA
Kei Velazquez, NP
Brent Wright, MD

Congratulations to all the nominees, our winner Lucresha, and to all who work so hard to bring quality healthcare to rural communities like ours. You are all rural health rock stars!

#bestcareanywhere