30 years of health care on the coast
I was one of seven founding employees at Mendocino Coast Clinics thirty years ago. I never imagined that today I would be the Executive Director with seven sites, over 130 staff members, and approximately 10,000 patients. We are proud to be one of the oldest and largest employers in Fort Bragg. In 1994, the clinic went from being run by the county Public Health Department to becoming a non-profit community health center with a volunteer board of directors designed to fill the unmet needs of our coastal region. We were founded on the principle of providing quality health care, regardless of the patient's ability to pay, and we have stayed true to that 30 years later.
For three decades, MCC has continuously grown and adapted our services to meet the needs of our area. MCC has the only pediatrician, the only obstetric office, the only dental clinic treating the uninsured and patients on Medi-Cal, the only medical outreach to the coast's LGBTQ+ population, drop-in teen services, and a street medicine program. We have the only comprehensive program offering Suboxone treatment for opioid addiction, which integrates peer networks and behavioral health services. We offer free services for nutrition counseling, pregnancy and breastfeeding support, and diabetes education.
During the COVID pandemic, MCC rose to fill unmet needs by providing testing and vaccinations across our region, serving our patients and the larger community.
From the beginning, MCC has prioritized hiring locally. When we first launched as a non-profit health clinic, we had a very small staff and knew that it would be difficult to find locals with experience in healthcare to help us grow. MCC leadership saw this as an opportunity and rose to meet the challenge, as we often did over the past 30 years. We took on the job of finding local talent and taught them the necessary skills, customer service, attitude, and language abilities that overtook previous experience in the hiring process. For decades, we've had employees begin in entrylevel positions who then gained certifications and education both on the job and through formal education that allows them to advance in their careers.
I am an example of someone whose career has taken shape here. While the clinic was still part of Public Health, I was hired as a part-time interpreter; I came in for a few hours each week to support Spanish-speaking patients. When a receptionist position opened, I moved into that role. After MCC became independent in 1994, I continued advancing in my career. Over the years, I have worked as a biller, office manager, and family planning counselor. As the clinic grew, my job grew. In 2009, I was a member of the inaugural class of the Clinic Leadership Institute through UCSF, and In 2016, when founding Executive Director Paula Cohen retired, I became the Executive Director.
MCC has continually created opportunities for our staff. Our current dental clinic manager started as a temporary receptionist who was interested in the dental field. When we opened a dental clinic in 1996, she was hired to become a dental assistant. Our Registered Dietitian started at MCC as a teenager working in medical records. Once she had her degree, she returned home to Fort Bragg and MCC to settle and raise a family.
Medical and dental assistants can work toward certification through onthe-job training. MCC hires trainers to come to the clinic on weekends and off hours to provide required instruction. At the end of the process, those who become certified get a pay raise. On our current dental staff, all but one of our dental assistants was trained on the job and supported throughout their instruction by MCC.
Our work culture recognizes that our employees have lives outside of work. We know that sometimes the best way to support our staff members is to cover part of someone's shift so they can attend their child's school assembly or stay home to care for a sick relative. This isn't always easy, but it's the right thing to do and our managers make it work. We see how much this matters when employees reach out to family and friends, encouraging them to apply for positions at MCC.
As we continue investing in our patients, staff, and community, we see how they invest back in MCC. As a private nonprofit, we rely on the funds that come through donations and fundraisers. We are grateful for the community members who choose to make financial contributions to the clinic and support events like our annual Crab & Wine Days each February.
Throughout 2024, we will celebrate our 30th anniversary with a series of columns recounting MCC's history and impact on our coastal community. We are excited to share these stories and are grateful for our community's ongoing support.