Eastern Plumas Health Care is offering free flu shots for anyone age 17 and up during the last week of March (24 – 28 and 31, and Sat. the 29th, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in Portola). No appointment is necessary; patients can simply walk in to their local EPHC Clinic (in Graeagle, Indian Valley, Loyalton and Portola) to get their vaccine, said Director of Clinics, Bryan Gregory. Flu season doesn’t end until May, so for those who haven’t yet had a flu shot, it’s still worthwhile to get vaccinated. This program is part of EPHC’s emphasis on preventive...

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When is a party more than a party? When it’s one of the Shepards’ and Kennedys’ (joined this year by the Kennedy-Roths) infamous Martini extravaganzas. This year, the lucky recipient of funds raised at the Martini bash was Eastern Plumas Health Care. Never underestimate the allure of drink and philanthropy. This year’s installment, dubbed the “Life Saving Martini Party,” raised a whopping $9,8919.00 towards the purchase of EPHC’s new ambulance. The party was held at Larry and Rene Walkers’ home, with one hundred people in attendance. Besides appetizers, barbeque, and a complete dinner, there was a full bar, and a band....

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When most people hear “Road Trip,” the vehicle that comes to mind is not an ambulance. But, for Steve Waldeck, Eastern Plumas Health Care’s dedicated Director of Ambulance Services, the point of a recent trip along the highways and byways of California was to bring back the hospital’s brand new, shiny EPHC ambulance. Waldeck decided to bring the rig back home himself in order to save the hospital $2,300 in transport costs. He flew down to Anaheim, where the new ambulance was being outfitted. But, what was the happiest place on earth for Waldeck? Not Disneyland, but the seat of...

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Valentine’s Day “was just another day,” said Zella Marie Coggin, a patient at Eastern Plumas Health Care’s Portola hospital. That is, until Eldred, her husband of seventy years, proposed to her again on the morning of Valentine’s Day 2014. “Will you marry me?” he asked. And she answered, “Yes, ten times over.” Zella shows off her beautiful new wedding ring proudly. After all, the first time around when they were eighteen, they purchased their rings at Hilp’s Drug Store in Reno, NV. The year was 1943, and Eldred had received $20 from his father for working on his father’s truck....

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Eastern Plumas Health Care has a new secret weapon. His name is Bryan Gregory, and he’s their new Director of Clinics. Gregory has the energy of ten normal men, which goes a long ways towards creating a positive environment – he personally greets and rooms patients when necessary, and he has expanded hours and services to provide EPHC’s patients the health care services they need. Gregory also has a broad base of experience that is already paying off in terms of creating friendly, efficiently run clinics offering shorter wait times, and easier access to care. Gregory has a MBA as...

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IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO GET YOUR FLU SHOT!!! EPHC OFFERS A FLU SHOT CLINIC WED. JAN 22, 2:00 - 4:00 pm IN THE PORTOLA HOSPITAL EDUCATION CENTER NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY BOOSTER SHOTS AVAILABLE IF YOU HAD YOUR 1ST SHOT 3 OR MORE MONTHS AGO. CALL 832.6500 WITH QUESTIONS. County Press Release re: Flu activity increase-- Plumas County –Following the normal seasonal pattern, influenza activity is on the rise in Plumas County and nationwide. Many California counties, and other states, are reporting patients who are critically ill with influenza, including healthy young adults. Four hospitalized cases of local adults with flu like symptoms have recently...

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Family and friends filled the Graeagle Fire Hall on Nov. 15 to remember Larry Fites. A host of speakers honored the man for his work, volunteerism and devotion to family during the celebration of his life. Fites died Nov. 5 at age 78, following a brief illness. Family friend Dink Rife welcomed the attendees. She was followed by Ed Ward, chief of the Graeagle Fire Department; Gail McGrath, Eastern Plumas Health Care; Paul Hardy, Feather River Land Trust; Scott Elliott, California State Park Service; and daughters Karen Gissible and JoAnn Fites. Each of...

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Ready or not, the new health insurance requirements are here! Everyone seems to have an opinion as to whether this is a good or bad thing. The fact is, though, it’s required and for many people in our county, it offers free or lower cost health insurance, and coverage will not be denied for pre-existing conditions or dropped when someone gets very sick or chronically ill. Covered California is the state entity that runs our new health insurance exchange. Those who have health coverage that covers certain “essential health benefits” such as hospital stays, emergency care, maternity care, and pediatric...

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SHERIFF DESCRIBES BRAWL WITH DEPUTY AS ‘LIFE-AND-DEATH’ By Jane Braxton Little Bee Correspondent PORTOLA – A Plumas County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a patient at Eastern Plumas District Hospital in a violent confrontation that moved from the acute-care section into the hospital lobby, officials said Monday. “It was an all-out, life-and-death struggle that resulted in the officer resorting to deadly force,” said Plumas County Sheriff Greg Hagwood. The patient, a 53-year-old man, became disruptive early Sunday – hours after checking in with an unspecified medical complaint – and barricaded himself in a room adjacent to the nurses’ station, Hagwood said. Hagwood said the patient...

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Eastern Plumas Health Care welcomes board certified family practice physician, Dr. Anne Williams, to its staff. She’ll be seeing patients primarily in Portola (including one Saturday per month). Dr. Williams has practiced throughout the Bay Area for the past 23 years, receiving her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. Dr. Williams and her husband recently relocated to the Clio area and are in the process of building their home here. She said she has “happily moved from the Bay Area” to Plumas County. Williams said it was always her goal to practice in a rural setting, as...

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