Filmed during National Health Centers Week in August, this episode of Healthcare For Life features CHC's Navigation Center Manager: Gracie Vasquez. Gracie took some time to share the ways CHC is trying to make it easier for patients to reach our agents to schedule, change or cancel their medical appointments without long wait times while holding on the phone.The addition of texting for medical appointments is the primary focus of this episode. Learn more at: https://www.communityhealthcenters.org/about/schedule-an-appointment/

The 2nd week of August marks National Health Center Week to celebrate the efforts and patients of community health centers nationwide. We decided to jump right into the world of live streaming and try out some brand new equipment for dynamic, live-streaming discussions with our staff. We are continuing to learn how to improve these videos, so while the video on this interview is choppy, the audio is intact and the supporting images look great and the content discussed is even better and very informative. We promise that these will be better very soon. We still wanted to share these with our community and celebrate the amazing CHC staff, our local agricultural workers and… most importantly… our patients. CHC's own Health Center Manager for the Guadalupe and New Cuyama clinic locations, Juanita Pineda was kind enough to sit down with us and be one of our first (brave) guests for our new video talks: "Healthcare For Life."

As Community Health Centers of the Central Coast celebrated its 44th anniversary since being founded in 1978, it seemed appropriate to get some insights from some of the staff. CHC's Chief Executive Officer, Ronald E. Castle also reflects on his time with the organization and shares some thoughts on his 'why' related to caring for the community in the now 31-plus locations across San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara counties.

To learn more about CHC visit: http://chccc.org

We at CHCCC want to thank ACEs Aware, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, and Aurrera Health for the impact they have had on our organization and community throughout the Round 1 ACEs Aware grants. The provider engagement grants have empowered us to engage our providers, support staff, and care coordinators in activities to create not only a trauma-informed but a trauma-responsive team. Thank you ACEs Aware for helping us and all California network partners to prevent ACEs and create healthier generations.

CHC created a display at the annual Santa Maria Elk's 'Christmas In The Country event.' The vision of CHC Executive Assistant: Chrissy Montez, brought joy and delight to thousands of guests at the new holiday favorite tradition. She even led the elves at CHC to include the smell of gingerbread baking as people drove through the experience with their windows down!

CHC Health Matters are a series of 60-second radio announcements to help the people of our central coast communities. Dr. Laura Herzberg is a pediatrician at CHC in Santa Maria and is a favorite of her patients and their parents. Common colds tend to hit us harder this time of year and with the pandemic, it seems like we may have forgotten how to be sick. Remember the core precautions if you come down with a cold: drink lots of fluids, get more rest than you normally would, wash your hands stay home. If you got to work sick, well… no one wants you there. Our workplaces have been better off the last year-plus with more sick people staying home – let's try to remember that.

A legacy of caring- for over 40 years. Community Health Centers of the Central Coast began operation in 1978 in a small and modest building in Nipomo, California. The mission was simple and still holds true: To enhance the health status of all people in the Central Coast of California, with particular emphasis on the medically under-served, by providing accessible, affordable, comprehensive, and quality healthcare services, through well-trained professional staff, in strategically located health centers. Today, Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Inc. (CHC) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, which holds a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) status, making CHC a safety net provider, with over 31 state-licensed clinics conveniently located in Northern Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County. CHC provides over 450,000 medical visits annually and cares for nearly 150,000 patients.

Providing essential healthcare services to the working poor, migrant and seasonal farmworkers, individuals and families experiencing homelessness, school-based populations, and the uninsured means going outside the four walls of traditional medicine. CHC understands the need to be mobile to reach vulnerable and underserved special populations while at the same time removing barriers to care. In its commitment to delivering quality healthcare to all residents, CHC created the Community Health Outreach Program, which includes a fleet of state-of-the-art mobile medical and mobile dental units. Patients are cared for by a diverse team of highly experienced healthcare professionals who are culturally and linguistically sensitive to their health and social needs.

Gurjit Marwah MD is now seeing pediatric patients at Community Health Centers in Lompoc, CA. His specialty was in neonatology and he has made the decision to serve children on the central coast by providing health care for ages newborn to 17 years old. He comes from a long line of legacy doctors and is the 5th generation in his family to care for others as a physician. We are honored to have him as part of the CHC team serving the Lompoc valley.

Appointments can be made with Dr. Marwah Mon-Fri 9am-6pm by calling 805-737-1169. To learn more about Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, visit https://www.chccc.org

#pedicatriccare #chlidrenshealth #healthcare

A 1982 congressional resolution designated May 6th as National Recognition Day for Nurses. The American Nurse Association expanded the recognition in 1990 to create National Nurses Week, which takes place each year from May 6th through May 12th.

While the holiday is over 35 years old, we still have not found the ideal way to put into words just how much our nurses mean to us here on the central coast. So, we put together a quick video tribute showing our thanks and support for these incredible team members that help CHC to care for patients.

All of us at CHC want to graciously thank and pay tribute to the hardworking nurses on our team. Your passion for our patient's health and safety is appreciated every day. The lasting effects of your kindness, optimism, and compassion you bring to our clinics do not go unnoticed – we truly appreciate you. Thank you for all you do. Again, everyone at CHC expresses deep gratitude to each and every CHC nurse and to nurses everywhere for just making it all better.