Adventist Health Mendocino Coast

As we look to 2021 as a new year for our Adventist Health team our reflections and look to the future continued with Emmet O’Connell, our Lab Services Director who we sat down with us to reflect on what 2020 meant to him and what he feels 2021 will bring. 2020 was the year of change and transition. We’ve had so many changes we have experienced here at Adventist Health and they have been for the absolute best. We are looking at a better future with a high quality leadership t...eam that is bringing out the best in all of our associates. Emmet went on to say about his experiences last year. We were so fortunate to have had this amazing transition to Adventist at the time COVID had begun. Our hospital was able to open a whole ward dedicated to COVID patients to help our community; even the amount of training, equipment and support we have received, we truly have been so fortunate. Emmet, much like a lot of staff, work in the present helping our community, but have hope for the bright future we have ahead of us as we continue to offer the best patient care. Once we finish out this first quarter or two, this will bring us through winter and spring and into summer where we can again refocus. We are always thinking about our patients, their care and ultimately the well being of everyone that walks through our doors at the Mendocino Coast. When asked what he looks forward to providing this community we work with for 2021, Emmet didn’t shy away from what he knows could be a tough road ahead. I’m looking forward to bringing us through this COVID event strong and providing for the community like we strive to each day. We have done a great job responding to it, but this first quarter is going to be challenging. It’s like we’re going into battle and the biggest may be ahead of us, but here at Adventists Health we are prepared to meet it head on. As with much of our staff, we work collectively as a team to ensure the work continues. Emmet mentioned part of our wonderful team here helping us through this pandemic as we battle back, Dr. Miller as the infection control officer for the facility and Dr. Parker as our Medical Officer, who we have been able to turn to as the liason between Adventist Health and the state, all of these things have been working together so great. Someone is always watching out for us and in turn we are watching out for our community.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." -Martin Luther King Jr. #MLKJDay #MartinLutherKingJr

We are very fortunate to have regular, local testing in Fort Bragg. Please note that testing is available at the Veteran's Hall every Tuesday from 9-5 for everyone to utilize this resource.

As you may have seen in the news, one lot of the Moderna vaccine was reported to have higher than expected allergic reactions immediately after administration or during the time of recommended observation. Fortunately, none of the patients who received the Moderna vaccine on the Mendocino Coast have adverse reactions. During that clinic, our team followed the specific guidelines for administering COVID-19 vaccines and monitored our patients for at least 15 minutes to ensure ...their safety. During that time, there were no adverse reactions reported or observed. Out of an abundance of caution, we are reaching out to those patients this morning to check on their well-being. There have not been any complications or severe reactions reported at this time. More than 300,000 doses from this lot were distributed across the state and a very small percentage have experienced complications. Rest assured that we will continue to follow these recommended guidelines to keep everyone safe.

This year Christmas looks a little different, but one thing is for certain, the holiday spirit is not missing. Kim Bratton, the local chorus teacher at Mendocino High School and Mendocino Middle School has been leading winter choral celebrations at Fort Bragg High School’s Cotton Auditorium for over 10 years. This year as shows are restricted, she found a new avenue to bottle that Christmas spirit! She and her students got together and created a beautiful video slide show of ...her students singing Christmas carols, included artwork and even the kids signing the words to Silent Night in sign language. Kim reached out to our team at Adventist Health and graciously shared the news and offered to help us spread some holiday cheer to our patients. Sally Swan, our Chaplain Coordinator for Adventist Health Mendocino Coast is helping to provide this slideshow to our patients and is thrilled to have this gift for the holidays. This slide show is an answer to prayer. I have been wondering how to bring carols to our hospital this year. We usually have a group of volunteer chaplains caroling on Christmas Day. This message from Kim is wonderful! We have beautiful local singing to offer to patients. What also makes this extra special for all at the Mendocino Coast is that a number of students that are a part of these performances have parents who work at the hospital and enjoyed seeing it put a smile to patients faces as they watched, bringing this event full circle in our community. We also are very grateful that the ipad we are able to use to show the sideshow and connect patients with loved ones during these times for a visit was donated by the wonderful Fort Bragg Rotary Club. A cheery holiday shout out to them for their amazing support to Adventist Health Mendocino Coast! A big thank you goes out to Kim Bratton and her students for this beautiful gift they have given us as we team up with the community, showing their support. We are very grateful! See link here for the video: https://docs.google.com//2PACX-1vTO99p5P_8q9g0zpcaNoA/pub Merry Christmas everyone!!#togetherinspired #merrychristmas

Adventist Health and our Medical Transport Team is humbled to receive the Mayor’s Well Done Award from the City of Fort Bragg. Each year the mayor presents awards acknowledging citywide achievements such as signage, commercial or residential developments or community events. This year, the award took a deeply intentional shift to acknowledge the tenacity, innovation and health of Fort Bragg residents navigating a pandemic. It goes without saying that 2020 has been a challe...nge and has required the best from all of us, stated Mayor Norvell. It is in this spirit that the 2020 Mayor’s Well Done Awards extends a heartfelt proclamation to recognize everyone in our community who gets up and goes to work each day to keep our community working and healthy, he added. We are inspired by our community and thankful for our everyday heroes represented by this acknowledgement from the mayor, states Judy Leach, President of Adventist Health Mendocino Coast. The staff are truly committed to being a force for good offering health, wholeness and hope to the City of Fort Bragg and throughout Mendocino County. Mayor Norvell went on to share his appreciation for coming together in meeting the needs of local residents and representing the diverse opportunities that permeate throughout this vibrant coastal community. #Togetherinspired For more information on this acknowledgement and more please visit the City of Fort Bragg press release here: https://city.fortbragg.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1194.

Its tough being a patient, especially during the holidays. Due to current times and visitors unable to spend time at the hospital, it's so important now more then ever that our patients feel the warmth of the holidays and the love that surrounds them. Sometimes the smallest gift means the very most to those around us. Tonight our nursing staff delivered a bit of Christmas cheer in commemoration of the holidays. An adorable train snow globe with a snowman inside was provided to each patient as a gift from Adventist Health to enjoy by their bedside. #togetherinspired #merrychristmaseve

A team from Adventist Health Mendocino Coast supported the Mendocino Coast Clinics (MCC) in administering COVID-19 vaccines to many of our community school districts. During today’s event, we were able to vaccinate 300 people working in our schools all along the north coast. We vaccinated two school districts, charter schools and some preschools, noted Lucresha Renteria, Executive Director of Mendocino Coast Clinics. We had a great interaction with Adventist Health nurses..., MCC staff and the venue was a perfect setting to keep everyone socially distanced and safe. The Adventist Health clinical Covid vaccine team included Kelly Hendricks, Nina Larsen, Lynne Ryerson and Davey Beak. The allotted doses provided by the county were administered at the Fort Bragg Highschool as Superintendent of Fort Bragg School District, Becky Walker coordinated logistics and resources to provide vaccines to teachers, staff members, care providers and more. Coming together as a community brought hope to our educational institutions and gets one step closer to a healthier future. #maskupmendo #Togetherinspired

This Christmas Eve we have so much to be thankful for. This morning Mary Kate McKenna, director of the Mendocino Coast Health Care Foundation brought our staff gifts and meals for working this Christmas Eve at the hospital. A big thank you goes out to Mary Kate and the Foundation for their generosity providing such a thoughtful gift to our staff. In these difficult times our team is moved by the wonderful gestures felt throughout our community. We greatly appreciate this joyous support today! To our amazing staff, we thank you alongside the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation for your wonderful patient care as you work during the holiday season! #togetherinspired #healthcareheroes

Embodying Love in the Community We’re so proud of our staff who are out in the community and living such a big part of our values of be love. Michele Eastham, Adventist Health Mendocino Coast’s Case Manager has been helping do something wonderful in the community for the last 22 years. She has been signing up to help the Lion’s Club efforts in coordinating and driving meals to seniors and the less fortunate with her family during Christmas. These deliveries take place each... year and begin North of Westport and run all the way to Elk, CA. When asked how she began in this beautiful act of giving back to the community she remembers, I had a 2 year old daughter and an 8 year old son at the time and I wanted to show them how helping others is a great experience so I called up and asked to help with this event, and went down on Christmas Day with my family to deliver to everyone in the community. Our first year my husband, children and I delivered between 80 to 90 meals together. As we asked Michele about her favorite memories she recounts numerous, but the ones that stick out most was watching her 2 year old daughter excitedly deliver a bag of fruit each stop on their route or the times they spent delivering to the same people each year as they watched their kids grow up. One story though she says she will never forget was the time it was raining heavily, and they were out looking for a woman by the name of Annie who they were to deliver dinner to in the homeless population. When they reached the camp she was supposed to be located at, she was not anywhere to be found. They found a tent nearby with a man who proceeded to tell them where Annie would be located, but unfortunately still had no luck. When we couldn’t find her my 17-year-old son said the man in the tent could use it, why don’t we give it to him? So, we drove back in the pouring rain and asked if he could use a nice dinner for Christmas. He was so grateful and as I turned around, I could see my son, eyes full of tears at how thankful the man was for a meal. To this day I have never felt I have had to tell my kids how grateful we are for what we have. Many years later this event continues on at the Lion’s Club with the help of Michele, her husband, as well as Home Health staff and so many others in the community. This year, the Lion’s Club plan to deliver roughly 180 meals to those in need as well as provide curb side pick-up. Michele says, when being asked what she loves most about helping at this event every year she said, I’ve lived here most of my life and it’s nice to reconnect with the community I know and love. We want to thank Michele and other team members who find time to give back and as well the Lion’s Club for their work on serving those in need during the holidays. #togetherinspired #mealsonwheels