Providence works to enhance health care locally
For many of us who have chosen health care as a profession in the U.S., we believe in a basic and fundamental tenant that health is a human right. In fact, our organizational vision, Health for a Better World, is driven by that belief.
Every person deserves the chance to live their healthiest life.
Furthermore, we believe that no matter where you are or what your circumstance is that you have the right to health care no matter the cost. Unfortunately, in remote, rural regions like ours where there are significant challenges related to the number of providers available, it means many often go without the basics of primary care. In these instances, providers are faced with the daunting challenge of trying to fulfill the pledge of health as a human right.
The structure of hospital services, physician services and home health services provided by Providence is unclear to many members of the community. As you may know, we have served Humboldt County for more than 100 years as your local, community health care provider. First as St. Joseph Health, now as Providence. In addition to operating Providence St. Joseph Hospital and Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital, Providence operates a network of physician clinics in Humboldt called the Providence Medical Group (PMG).
It is important to note that while the medical group and the hospital operations teams are different, we are closely connected and work collaboratively to support your health. Our common goal is to ensure we develop inventive and modern ways to support health for your friends, family and neighbors.
Health care leaders from organizations like Providence, Open Door Community Health Centers, Mad River Community Hospital, United Indian Health Services, Jerold Phelps Hospital and others have recognized the need to enhance access to primary care and continue to work toward this goal and continue to recruit primary care physicians, physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners. We also recognize the value in training physicians who specialize in family medicine locally to recruit some of them after their training. The philanthropic community responded to this need with support for the development of the St. Joseph Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, which was launched in 2019 through collaboration between Providence St. Joseph Hospital, the sponsoring institution, and Open Door Community Health Centers, an essential collaborator in the vision and training. At Providence, the PMG continues to recruit new primary care providers, as does the Redwood Memorial Rural Health Clinic located in Fortuna.
While the development of a larger primary care network is important, access to advanced specialty services in case of an urgent health care event, as well as support for complex medical issues, is essential for our community to thrive.
Over the past 20 years, St Joseph Hospital has transformed from being a typical rural hospital to becoming a regional medical center providing the only Level III trauma services, heart attack care, open-heart surgery, vascular surgery, comprehensive cancer care, neurosurgery and urology and vascular surgery services from the Oregon border to the Mendocino County border. At Providence, most of the specialists who provide this care are PMG providers, while some are on the medical staff as independent physicians.
At Providence, we continue to enhance our inventive network of care that allows consumers to access our services across multiple points of entry and in ways that are convenient and appropriate for the level of care you need. For example, if you are unable to see a primary care provider in a time that is convenient for you, you can access Providence Express-Care Virtual via our website or app for conditions like the flu, fever, sinus infection, strep throat, bronchitis and other common ailments. And because we are part of a vast network of hospitals and clinics across seven western states, if you need to travel for care you can do so and receive the highest level of care within the Providence family of organizations. This means you can maintain the continuity of care you covet and have the peace of mind knowing that your health history is available to all the providers you encounter along your health journey.
As a comprehensive health care organization, we are serving more people, improving access, advancing best practices and continuing our more than 100-year tradition of serving the entire community, including, the poor and vulnerable. In Humboldt, we are committed to touching as many lives as possible and enhancing the health of our communities for the next generation and beyond.