MESSAGE FROM
EPHC BOARD CHAIR

As a member of the board of trustees of EPHC, one of the things I feel most strongly about is the tremendous improvement in the quality of medical care provided by our staff. This improvement has gone largely unappreciated by some who continue to travel out-of-the area for their medical care.
We have instituted a rigorous quality assurance process through which we continue to monitor, evaluate, and improve the quality of our services. The goals of quality assurance include delivering the highest quality health care possible with available resources, identifing systematic problems and working towards a resolution.
The quality assurance process has led to remarkable revisions in improved health care for our patients. Satisfaction is clearly demonstrated in our patients’ positive responses to questionnaires after treatment.
When I joined the EPHC Board in 1991, I had concerns about the quality of medical care. Those concerns no longer exist. There has been a tremendous improvement in the quality of care we provide. I am proud and pleased to use the services of the hospital for my medical needs, and encourage others in our service area to experience the improved quality care at EPHC.

Don Donato

SIERRA VALLEY
HOSPITAL DISTRICT
UPDATE

With the assistance of Assemblyman Sam Aanestad, R – 3rd District, Eastern Plumas Health Care and Sierra Valley District Hospital are moving towards consolidation.

Under the proposed arrangement, SVDH, its clinic and ambulance services would become a part of EPHC, which has pledged to continue to operate them for the benefit of the residents of Loyalton and the surrounding area. The SVHD would continue to exist for a period of time in order to pay off its bankruptcy obligation and continue to pay down its general obligation bond.

Due to the complexity of the transaction, special legislation is required. Assemblyman Aanested, who is a physician and is very familiar with both hospital districts, is sponsoring Assembly Bill 740, a bill specifically directed at giving the two hospital districts the authority to merge their operations under a consolidated license. In doing so, both hospital districts will be able to eliminate duplication of services and reduce administrative overhead.

It is hoped that the two districts can consolidate their operations this summer and achieve a political consolidation within the next three to five years.

EPHC TO WORK CLOSELY WITH LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS

As part of our continuing responsibility to care for the health of the residents of eastern Plumas County, EPHC has committed to work more closely with the First Responders of the local volunteer fire departments with respect to training, standardizing medical practices and equipment and otherwise supporting their critical role in the community.

To support the critical role that the volunteer fire department’s First Responders play in saving lives, the EPHC Foundation has agreed to use ten percent of the proceeds of their annual golf tournament for support of First Responders.
Additionally, a new policy adopted by EPHC will make First responders and members of local volunteer fire departments eligible for work physicals, immunizations and Tuberculosis tests at a 50% discount off the standard charges. Those eligible immunizations include Tetanus, Hepatitis A and B, and Measles (MMR).

According to Dr. Frank Long, the Medical Director of the Emergency Department, these immunizations are recommended for anyone who is a first responder working at an accident scene, for their own health and safety.
First responders and volunteers should call the clinic annex at 832-4277, extension 258, to schedule a physical or to arrange for immunizations. Individuals will be responsible for seeing that the charges are paid, either personally, or by their fire department.

HOSPITAL DISTRICTS JOIN TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR TOBACCO SETTLEMENT FUNDS

The administrators of the four hospital districts in Plumas County are working together to secure $300,000 in Tobacco Settlement Funds that will come to Plumas County annually for more than 20 years.
In November 1998, state attorney generals of 46 states, including California, reached a settlement with tobacco manufacturers on a wide range of lawsuits. Nearly all of the lawsuits covered issues of health and the costs associated with caring for people with tobacco related diseases.

The tobacco manufacturers agreed to pay out a total of $246 billion over twenty-five years to the 46 states involved. California will receive 12% of that settlement, nearly $30 billion. The 15 California counties and four cities that participated in the suit received 60% of the settlement funds while the other 40% is divided among all 58 counties in the state, based on population.

The four district hospitals in Plumas County have provided uncompensated and under-compensated care for the treatment of respiratory, cardiac, and other smoking-related illnesses for many years and continue to do so. The financial reality of health care in Plumas County is that two of these hospitals have been forced into bankruptcy during the past decade due largely to the financial burdens of uncompensated and under-compensated care for smoking related illnesses. In addition, collectively the four district hospitals in Plumas County had an operating loss of approximately $2.5 million last year, due largely to uncompensated care and low reimbursements.

Plumas County itself does not bear any substantial portion of theses costs, yet the Board of Supervisors have proposed that most of the tobacco settlement funds be directed to other purposes.

The administrators of Seneca Hospital District, Indian Valley Hospital District, and Plumas District Hospital have joined with Charles Guenther, CEO of EPHC, to urge the Plumas County Board of Supervisors to demand that the Tobacco Settlement Funds be distributed directly to the four health care districts. “As health care districts, our job is to promote health and healthy lifestyles and to treat smoking related illnesses. This is what the tobacco lawsuits were all about. These funds should not be diverted to other purposes, however worthy they may be,” said Guenther.

HOME HEALTH CARE COMES THROUGH

When it comes to personalized home health care, the professional staff of Eastern Plumas Health Care has the experience and knowledge to provide the comprehensive, high quality home nursing care you need.

The services Home Health Care currently offers include Skilled Nursing, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, post partum mother-baby visits, Social Services, and Homemaker Services.
The agency is Medicare Certified, and accepts Medicare, Medi-Cal and most private insurances.

Home Health Care has trained professionals on-call 24 hours a day, offering prompt home delivery and repair services for home oxygen and medical equipment.
These services include home oxygen, nebulizers, CPAP, BiPap ventilators, hospital beds, special mattresses, wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs, bedside commodes, walkers, incontinence supplies, and shower benches.

Services extend from Hallelujah Junction to Quincy, Greenville, and Chester and all the communities in between.

For more information, please call Kerri Brest-Landry, Director of Home Health 832-4320 in Portola, 283-5324 in Quincy, or toll free at 800-767-8909.

(click map above for larger image)

SIGNS, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF A HEART ATTACK

A heart attack is the death of part of the heart muscle due to sudden loss of blood supply, typically caused by a complete blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot. A coronary artery is an artery that supplies blood to the heart muscle. The blood clot forms on a cholesterol plaque located on the inner wall of the coronary artery. Death of the heart muscle may result in electrical instability and can lead to fibrillation of the heart. In Ventricular Fibrillation the heart simply quivers, and cannot pump or deliver oxygenated blood to the brain. Death can occur within a few minutes.
Chest pain is a common symptom of heart attack. It is often dull, and may be described as a pressure or band-like sensation. Heart attacks frequently occur between 4:00 am to 10:00 am due to higher adrenaline amounts released from the adrenal glands during the morning hours. Approximately one quarter of all heart attacks are silent, without chest pain. Heart attack victims can also complain of chest pressure, sweating, jaw pain, arm pain (more commonly the left arm, but may be either), nausea, or shortness of breath.

The initial diagnosis is made by a combination of symptoms and electrocardiogram (ECG) changes. An ECG is a recording of the electrical activity of the heart, and can detect areas of damaged or dead tissue. However, confirmation of a heart attack can only be made 2-3 hours later through detection of elevated cardiac enzymes in the blood.

The immediate goal of treatment is to quickly open the blocked artery and restore blood flow to the heart muscle; a process called “reperfusion.” Once the artery is open, the heart attack is generally halted and the patient becomes pain free. Optimal benefit is obtained if reperfusion can be established in the first 4-6 hours of a heart attack.

To open up the blocked artery, certain clot dissolving medicines (thrombolytic agents) such as tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) or streptokinase given intravenously can successfully open up to 80% of acutely occluded coronary arteries.

Aspirin and beta-blockers (propranolol, metoprolol, atenolol) have been shown to reduce chances of a second heart attack and improve future survival. Beta-blockers block the affects of adrenaline.

Reduction of LDL cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”) to a value below 100 mg/dl has been demonstrated to have a beneficial effect on long-term prognosis. Medications called ACE inhibitors also aid in the healing process and improve long-term survival in selected patients. In addition, the measures outlined below in prevention are instituted.

Stopping smoking, reducing weight and dietary fat, controlling blood pressure and diabetes (if present), and reducing serum cholesterol (if high) along with regular exercise can all improve the quality of life and help prevent heart attacks or improve lifespan after a heart attack.

The above article is a simplification of facts about heart disease and is intended as a guide only. Milind Dhond, FACC Attending Cardiologist Eastern Plumas Health Care, UC Davis.

Dearest Vicky,

Where to begin? I don’t quite know how to thank you. When you stopped at my accident, you did everything right. I needed a mommy so much right then and you filled those shoes as well as anyone could have. Thank you for holding my hand and telling me everything would be okay. I believed you and everything is okay. It was so comforting to feel your kisses on my face and your positive words.

I am so sorry to have put you through that. I sincerely appreciate all your warmth and tenderness. You really helped me through a terrifying experience. Thank you also for calling my Dad for me. He was at the hospital before I was because of you.
I am completely okay. I have a few minor scrapes and bruises and some stiffness but I am quite well. I am taking things easy and I have a lot of support from my family and friends.

Thank you for your kindness.
Love,
Becky Powers