Patty Schulz is Eastern Plumas Health Care’s first ever Employee of the Month. EPHC has had an Employee of the Year for as long as anyone can recall. But Schulz’s award is part of a newly enhanced employee recognition and customer service program, helmed by the hospital’s Director of Human Resources, Cathy Conant, aimed at increasing satisfaction both internally and externally. Schulz is ideal as the first recipient of this award, since she’s worked faithfully for EPHC since 1986. She was hired then as an EMT 1. She also worked for awhile as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA), and...

Read More ›

EPHC now has 2 state of the art telemedicine carts and is awaiting the arrival of four additional grant funded carts in mid-February. EPHC is a part of the California Telemedicine Network (CTN), which has supplied separate internet lines that insure optimal audio and video for telemedicine patient visits. Currently, telemedicine services are available in Portola and Indian Valley and include: psychiatry, psychology (both a licensed Clinical Psychologist and a Marriage and Family Counselor) endocrinology, pulmonology, and diabetic education. Rheumatology and nephrology will be added shortly. Further, the hospital’s partnership with UC Davis’s Pediatric Intensivist program will begin January 23, allowing...

Read More ›

The mobile MRI unit is now on our Portola campus every second Friday of the month, with a full schedule of patients ready to utilize its services.

Here’s a link to the most recent update of our strategic plan so that, in addition to the specifics above, you can see how “the big picture” is shaping up: http://www.ephc.org/documents/strategic_plan_scorecard.pdf

Dr. Kopes-Kerr will be leaving at the end of January. We’ll be very sorry to see him go, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. Dr. Kopes-Kerr sent out a heartfelt letter to his patients explaining the personal reasons for his departure. He also explained how much he’s loved living and working here. The letter, as some of you have pointed out, couldn’t be better. We’ll still have to work to convince patients that we have adequate coverage without him, however. To that end, Mary Morrison, FNP, will begin seeing patients at the Graeagle Clinic two...

Read More ›

The California Hospital Association (CHA) filed a temporary injunction in their case to stop the state of CA from implementing proposed Medi-Cal rate cuts to hospital skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder granted the injunction, citing EPHC and Plumas County as examples in her decision. On Jan. 10, the state filed an appeal of the decision to the 9th Circuit Court. According to the attorneys for CHA, it’s likely we’ll learn the outcome of the appeal within one to three months. If the injunction holds, the rate cuts will not occur for the duration of the case. We’ve...

Read More ›

Now you can get the tests you need when you need them! Choose from the following list, every month, all year long: Complete Blood Count (without differential) $11 Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (fasting required) $26 Lipid Panel (fasting required) $31 Vitamin D, 25-hydroxy $40 Hemoglobin A1C $25 TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) $25 Free T4 $25 PSA (prostate specific antigen) $79 Low-cost testing is available at the following locations and times: Graeagle Medical Clinic Mon. & Wed. 8am – 12pm 530.836.1122 Loyalton Hospital Mon. & Wed. 8:30am – 12pm 530.993.1231 Indian Valley Medical Clinic Mon. – Thurs. 8am – 9am 530.284.6116 • Payment due at time of service. Insurance will not be billed. You...

Read More ›

U.S. District Court Judge, Christina Snyder has granted the California Hospital Association’s (CHA) motion for a preliminary injunction. This halts the implementation of the CA state rate cut to our skilled nursing facilities that would have amounted to a $1 million per year hit to our hospital. Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, the law firm representing CHA in their case against the state of California and federal Health and Human Services, praised EPHC for its efforts, stating that “Tom’s [Hayes’] declaration was cited, and Plumas County was used as an example,” in the judge’s Order. They also said to “let the...

Read More ›

We know these are tough times—we don’t just work here, we LIVE here! We hope these services will help you to thrive this winter. • Urgent Care at EPHC: after hours visits to the ER are charged as a regular clinic visit. • Low Cost Lab Specials: now a full menu of lab specials are available every week day, all year long. You get the tests you need WHEN you need them. Self-pay. • Dental Clinic: our dental clinic takes most forms of commercial insurance. Please call 832.6507 for details. • Our Patient Financial Advocate can set you up with a payment plan, help you with MediCal...

Read More ›

Eastern Plumas Health Care’s Lab Manager, Bill Carlson, is 2011 Employee of the Year. It’s an honor he’s proud of, especially since he was chosen by fellow staff members, all 250 of whom were also in the running for this award. In his multiple nominations, staff members described him as “an excellent example of a dedicated, caring, and highly competent employee, who is committed to excellent customer service,” said Cathy Conant, Director of Human Resources. Carlson was also touted for his “ability to partner with others,” a vital skill in this small and versatile hospital where, with state and federal funding cuts...

Read More ›