Eastern Plumas Health Care is the proud owner of a new C-arm digital x-ray system, and no one is happier about this than the hospital’s Cardiologist, Dr. Milind Dhond. The C-arm utilizes fluoroscopy, a process in which dye is injected into veins or arteries and continuous x-rays are taken “in real time.” Imagine a digital video rather than a digital photograph, which then allows Dhond to watch as blood flows through an artery or vein. According to Dhond, “This is a high quality C-arm, and it utilizes digital subtraction,” meaning the background can be removed,...

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Eastern Plumas Health Care has expanded its list of October low cost cash pay specials this year. Because of public interest in the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) test, it has been added to the line up of screenings for $125, with no doctors visit required. Other screenings include digital mammography and dexa scan (bone density screening). The Complete Blood Panel includes CMP, CBC, cholesterol, and thyroid, for $40, and diabetic patients can add the important A1c for only $25, while men can add the PSA (prostate) test for only $10. These tests and screenings are available throughout the month of...

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Dr. Wendy Flapan, a Board Certified Physiatrist (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist), sees patients at Eastern Plumas Health Care’s Graeagle Clinic. She received her medical degree from Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ, and completed a physical medicine and rehabilitation residency at UC Davis. She also completed special training in medical acupuncture through UCLA. Dr. Flapan specializes in disorders and pain of the musculoskeletal system and spine. Recently, EPHC’s Director of Human Resources, Lori Crown, was very frustrated after taking her mother, Kelly Block, to the ER twice in the middle of the night for extreme pain, only to be told by...

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Bill Adamson, the poster boy for preventive health screenings, came to the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening day at Eastern Plumas Health Care, only to find out he has a small aneurysm. Because he caught it early, he’ll be able to monitor it through yearly screenings, and have a manageable treatment plan if it increases in size later on. An AAA, if it becomes very large, is like an old bicycle tire with a balloon at a weak point. If it bursts, it is lethal. Said Adamson, “My mother lived to age 97, and there’s longevity on my father’s side—I have...

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Eastern Plumas Health Care and Plumas District Hospital are making good on the promise to work together to bring top quality, broad spectrum health care to all residents of Plumas County. Dr. Mark Williams, the new general surgeon who will be shared by both hospitals is the first tangible proof of this new era of collaboration. Dr. Williams is a USC Medical School trained, Board Certified General Surgeon with medical school honors in General Surgery, Urology, and Plastic Surgery. He received an Outstanding Surgery Resident Award, and he has also taught, researched, and published extensively. Why is he coming to...

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This time of year—given great weather, great causes, and plenty of need, Eastern Plumas County has a fun fundraising event almost every weekend. Community members—with their numbers seemingly doubled by the return of “snowbirds” and the onslaught of tourists—come out in strong support of their favorite events and in turn are treated to a fun game of golf or great music, good food and drink, and unique, often handmade auction fare. Eastern Plumas Health Care joined the party, as it does every year, with its one big annual fundraiser—their “Swing Fore Eastern Plumas Health Care” golf tournament, held for a...

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SAT. JUNE 21, 9 - 1. CALL 832.6600 TODAY FOR YOUR APPT.!!! BREAST CANCER SCREENING SAVES LIVES!! “Breast cancer screening with mammography is the only screening technique that has been shown to reduce breast cancer mortality,” according to Eastern Plumas Health Care’s Dr. Michelle Kim. “Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer and the accounts for the second highest rate of cancer related deaths in North American women.” Breast cancer screening recommendations have evolved over the past few years, explained Dr. Kim, but despite this there is consensus that mammography should be done at least biennially for women between...

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Plumas County residents are once again experiencing decision makers’ preference for larger urban communities when it comes to their health care. Last year, it was Eastern Plumas Health Care’s battle to keep their skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) open in the face of cuts that would unfairly affect small, rural communities. This year, the hit is being felt by the new Medi-Cal enrollees. In both cases, the promise of “access to care” seems hollow—and it points to a prejudice against our rural communities that sets a dangerous precedent. Rural counties such as Plumas have recently been required to shift to Medi-Cal Managed...

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One of the primary difficulties facing small, rural hospitals is that of attracting high quality physicians, particularly specialists who face a mountain of debt once they graduate from medical school. Often, locating specialists who are of exceptional quality and who also work to create caring relationships with their patients, is a daunting task. Further, finding them is one thing; getting them to stay is sometimes quite another. So, when Eastern Plumas Health Care managed to attract Dr. Charles Cox, a Board Certified, Stanford trained Gastroenterologist to its staff, there was cause for celebration. Currently, his dance card is so full,...

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The Portola City Council celebrated a hero at its regular city council meeting on April 24. Jose “Tony” Avalos, a humble 20-year-old local who works as a cook at Eastern Plumas Health Care, saved a life on April 14 by running into a burning house and dragging unconscious citizen Dave Stanton to safety. In recognition of Avalos’ selfless act of bravery, the council awarded him with a commemorative plaque given to him by Stanton in an emotional presentation. Mayor Phil Oels read a proclamation describing the event while Avalos’ family and friends snapped photos of the unpretentious man receiving his award from...

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