From Where I Stand - 18 July 2012 (first published in Feather Publishing's Plumas County newspapers) Why in the world would hospitals want to collaborate? Maybe to reduce costs, save money, improve services offered to the community, improve quality, better serve the residents of our county, survive ongoing and inevitable cuts to our reimbursement--all of the above, and much more. I was mystified by Doug Lafferty’s comment in last week’s article entitled, “Hospital CAOs see ‘collaboration’ differently.” He is quoted as saying, “I don’t want to talk collaboration until we know what we need to...

Read More ›

Gloria LaPlant, President, Portola Rotary Club, Ralph Taylor, Ann Taylor, Van VanDer Veen, Rachelle Ramelli, Steve O'Neill, Toni Carl, and Steve Clifton worked through a hot Saturday to pressure wash and treat the Skilled Nursing Facility deck and ramp. They plan to come back through the summer to get the job done. They'll also return every 5 years to maintain the deck and ramp, said Ralph Taylor, adding, "Anything to help the hospital." EPHC thanks the Rotarians At Work program for all of your hard work--we really appreciate it!

EPHC lab hours will now be listed along with clinic hours under the "Contact Us" pull down tab at www.ephc.org. The current lab draw hours are: Portola Hospital: M - F: 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sat: 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Graeagle Medical Clinic: M & W: 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Indian Valley Medical Clinic: M - Th: 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Loyalton Medical Clinic: M & W: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

The Indian Valley Medical Clinic will be closed on Monday and Tuesday for regular appointments. Dr. Walker, our chiropractor, will see scheduled patients on Tuesday. For information or to schedule an appointment, please call 832.6600. Thank you for your understanding.

"Amazing efforts by so many people at this year's Relay for Life event!" said Regina Martinez, Nursing Administration at EPHC, who has worked so hard to make EPHC'S team, Stitches of Hope, such a great success. This year, they raised a whopping $6057.81. Said Martinez, "Our goal was $5000.00 and that was double last year's goal. It was a stretch, but WE MADE IT!" "This year, the team consisted of over 30 people," Martinez explained. "We had employees, spouses, children, patients and friends walking hand in hand at the Feather River College track where Relay for Life is held . ....

Read More ›

Windy conditions didn't deter the duffers who played in Swing Fore Eastern Plumas Health Care, the hospital's annual fundraising golf tournament. The EPHC Foundtion hosted the tourney. Though totals aren't available yet, a full field of players and lively bidding on auction items mean that EPHC will be well on its way to purchasing its new ultrasound upgrade. In years past, the fundraiser has helped pay for an ambulance, the new digital mammography equipment, and a wireless EKG transmission system.

Davis transplant wants to spend more time with patients and family “They had me at hello,” said Dr. Michelle Kim, putting a twist on a line made famous in the movie “Jerry Maguire,” when referring to her meeting with Eastern Plumas Health Care District administrators. “I couldn’t believe how welcoming everyone was,” Kim said, adding that she was awed by how committed the hospital’s CEO and board of directors were to finding a physician. It’s Kim’s own commitment to her profession and her patients that drove her to leave her Sutter Health-affiliated practice in Davis and relocate to the Sierras. “I was...

Read More ›

The cameras were rolling at Eastern Plumas Health Care May 4 as Mark Schweyer discussed the success of telemedicine locally. His remarks will be used in a television commercial, advertisements and training videos for other health care providers. Schweyer, the health care district’s director of clinics and telemedicine, gets animated when he talks about the program. “This is the most exciting thing I’ve ever worked on in my career,” the 47-year-old said. “And that includes working in the ER’s knife and gun club,” referring to various wounds that need attention in a large city emergency room. In 2010 there was only...

Read More ›

Eastern Plumas Health Care welcomes the return of Dr. David Kitts, Board Certified Surgeon, to its Portola Clinic. His first day seeing patients was April 10. He’ll be here every Wednesday. Currently, his first surgery day is planned for June 13. Patients can be referred to Dr. Kitts through their EPHC primary care physician. Please call 832.6600 for an appointment.

Details of EPHC’s new Free Medicare Services* program can be accessed on this website under the drop down menu, “What We Do.” The Free Medicare Services web page includes a link to a more detailed page, which explains eligibility and risk factor requirements for the preventive tests, screenings and services. EPHC hopes these new services will help community members, particularly seniors, during these difficult economic times. [*No copayment or deductible for Original Medicare (Part B); some Medicare Advantage Plans may have a small copayment. For coverage details and questions, please call EPHC AT 530.832.6570, 1.800.MEDICARE, or your Medicare Advantage provider.]