10 minute read
FIRST WOUND CARE CLINIC IN SLO
Tenet Health Central Coast has opened San Luis Obispo County’s first Wound Care Clinic. The clinic, which is at Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton, is already making an impact on the advanced treatment options for chronic and non-healing wounds because physicians now can have their patients treated locally.
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Michelle Ribas, M.D., directs the clinic and is passionate about providing wound care that can prevent dire or severe outcomes.
“One of the most important aspects of this clinic is the close geography: doctors do not have to send their patients outside the area for wound care anymore. This is significant for patients because, if it is too hard to get to a wound care clinic, they may not go at all, and then end up returning to the hospital unnecessarily,” said Dr. Ribas. “We are new, so we want physicians, dieticians, vascular surgeons, and all those that work with patients that may have chronic wound conditions to know that we are here to help with local and comprehensive care that is coordinated with them.”
The clinic treats a wide variety of conditions that include non-healing wounds associated with diabetes, cancerpatient complications from radiation treatments, venostasis, trauma complications and pressure sores.
Chronic wounds are a persistent issue in all communities and can have a devastating effect on a patient’s quality of life. While it is significant that persistent wounds can limit a person’s ability to gain or maintain employment, it is tremendously impactful for those already with a chronic condition, such as diabetes, because these types of wounds can hamper the ability to sustain medical care for their other health problems. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinic Nursing in 2018, those living with chronic wounds are often so frustrated that it can lead to feelings of distrust toward clinicians, which can lead to issues of health regimen compliance.
Dr. Ribas is an advocate of having the clinic in a medical campus setting, not only because public transportation comes right to the front of Twin Cities Community Hospital, but because the coordination of care can also help mitigate patient transportation challenges.
“Having the clinic in a hospital setting is an important benefit because we have resources here, such as the lab for blood draws, imaging services, ultra-sound, CT’s [computed tomography] and more, if the patient chooses. That way, it’s not necessary to try to schedule other appointments that may delay treatment.”
The Wound Care Clinic uses a case management model with advanced treatment modalities that require evidence-based clinical protocols and leverage cuttingedge treatment options. This model places a priority on coordination with providers for a consistent plan of care from start to finish and optimizing patient compliance so that physicians can have more time to focus on their core practice.
In addition to the excellence of clinical care, the Wound Care Clinic provides treatment education, complete wound evaluations, diagnostic testing and customized treatment plans.
Importantly, Medicare-approved coverage of DWLE (Diabetic Wounds of the Lower Extremity) includes the following provisions: Type 1 or Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Wagner Grade III or higher on a lower extremity, failed course of standard wound care (no measurable signs of healing for 30 days), and decreases in volume or size of exudate and/or necrotic tissue.
“Referrals for persistent wounds can be scary for patients, so one thing that’s very important is that we have a really great, caring team,” said Dr. Ribas. “We truly believe in the tenet of a Community Built on Care, and every person here is committed to our patients. The people who come in can really feel that personal care is an intrinsic part of who we are at the clinic.”
More information about the Wound Care Clinic at Tenet Health Central Coast’s Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton is available by calling (805) 434-4537.
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FOR SUPPORTING CENTRAL COAST PHYSICIANS
Financial Services
Arlington Financial Advisors 805.699.7300 www.ArlingtonFinancialAdvisors.com
CoastHills Credit Union 805.733.7600 www.CoastHills.coop
Healthcare
Cottage Health 805.682.7111 www.CottageHealth.org
Sansum Clinic 805.681.7500 www.SansumClinic.org
Santa Barbara Behavioral Health 805.681.0035 www.SBBH.net
Tenet Health Central Coast 805.546.7600 805.434.3500 www.TenetHealthCentralCoast.com
The Doctors Company 310.492.4845 www.TheDoctors.com
Medi-Cal Administrator
CenCal Health 805.685.9525 www.CenCalhealth.org
West Coast Vascular 805.643.3330 www.WestCoastVascular.com
Insurance
Mercer Health & Benefits Insurance Services 800.842.3761 www.CountyCMAMemberInsurance.com
Real Estate
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 805.705.4485 805.335.0158
Hayes Commercial Group 805.563.2111 www.HayesCommercial.com
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16 New & Rejoining The Central Coast Medical Association welcomes the following physicians as members ...and even more on the way.
Bilal Harake, MD Pediatric Cardiology Santa Barbara 805.569.3146 Mark Juretic, MD Internal Medicine Sansum Clinic Santa Barbara 805.681.7500
Ryan Kendle, MD Medical Oncology Ridley-Tree Cancer Center Santa Barbara 805.879.0670
Eric Kuo, MD Vascular Surgery West Coast Vascular Santa Barbara 805.643.3330
Marilyn Mendoza, MD Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine Sansum Clinic Santa Barbara 805.563.6211
Frederick Rosen, MD, MMM, MPH Public Health and General Medicine County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department San Luis Obispo 805.781.5500
Cathy Straits, MD Internal Medicine Sansum Clinic Santa Barbara 805.681.1744 Matthew Williams, MD Emergency Medicine Central Coast Emergency Physicians San Luis Obispo 805.434.1869
RETIRED
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2019 YEAR IN REVIEW
In the legislative, legal and regulatory arenas, the California Medical Association won key victories to improve public health, expand access to care, remove administrative burdens and ensure physicians are fairly compensated for the work they do. We will build on these victories in the new year to ensure California’s physicians have a strong voice in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C., and that we can transform our state’s health care system into a model for the entire nation.
Led the fight to pass SB 276, which cracks down on fraudulent medical exemptions for childhood vaccinations.
Sponsored AB 744, which revamps the rules regarding telehealth services to increase access to care and ensure physicians are fairly compensated for telehealth services.
CalMedForce awarded $76 million in tobacco tax revenues to fund more than 300 physician residents across the state.
Grew our membership to record levels, now representing more than 46,000 California physicians.
Secured $2.2 billion in provider rate increases through the Proposition 56 tobacco tax.
Announced the first ever CalHealthCares awards, which will pay off $67 million in student loans for 240 physicians and 38 dentists who commit to see more Medi-Cal patients.
Recouped more than $1.3 million from payors on behalf of CMA’s physician members.
Fought legal battles to ensure access to women’s health care and for care for immigrants and transgender patients. Secured passage of new federal regulations that strengthen enforcement of EHR interoperability to allow health providers to better share medical information.
Supported a state-level individual mandate to strengthen the Affordable Care Act in California.
In Memoriam
ALAN B BERNSTEIN, MD Alan B. Bernstein passed away September 24, 2019 after a brave, hard-fought two-year battle with Lymphoma. Survived by his sons Gabe and Matt, and wife Mindy Bender.
Born December 4, 1951 in Brooklyn, Alan grew up with his siblings, Neal, Steven and Patti in West Hempstead, Long Island. He went on to study at the University of Rochester, received his MD from NYU, trained at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, and received an MPH from UC-Berkeley. Alan practiced pediatrics at Montefiore in the Bronx before becoming the first Medical Director for Cumberland community health center in Brooklyn. He later served as Chairman of the Pediatric Department at The Brooklyn Hospital Center and at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. A resident of Larchmont, NY for 22 years, Alan’s career included leadership positions in managed care and medical management in several
organizations in the greater New York area. Most recently, Alan served as Medical Director at
CenCal Health in Santa Barbara, fulfilling a wish to close out his career where he could enjoy the beach year-round.
Alan lived life to the fullest, whether it was rooting for his favorite sports teams - the New York Mets, Jets, Knicks, Mamaroneck Tigers, Wisconsin Badgers, and Muhlenberg Mules - listening to music, enjoying cultural events, travelling, or spending time with family.
Adapted from The New York Times
FRANK R GAMBERDELLA, MD Frank R. Gamberdella, M.D. passed away peacefully at home with his loving family by his side on July 23, 2019. Frank was born on March 12, 1943, to Ralph J. and Caroline K. (Sale) Gamberdella in New Haven, Conn.
Frank became the first in his family to attend college, earning a full scholarship to the University of Southern California and embarking on his medical education. After three years at USC he qualified to enter Medical School at UC Irvine, and he later returned to USC for his Internship and Residency. Thus began a 40+ year career as one of the premier Obstetrician / Gynecologist / Infertility Specialists in the region. Directly after finishing his residency, Frank began his service as a Major in the U.S. Air Force and moved his family to serve at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. In 1975 Frank returned to civilian life and once again moved the family across country. This time to join the Santa Barbara Medical Foundation Clinic as an OB/GYN. In 1978, Frank began his private practice where he would serve the Santa Barbara community until he retired in 2014. It was often joked that Frank probably delivered half the babies in Santa Barbara during his work as an obstetrician.
Midway through his career, Frank retired from obstetrics and focused his medical practice on infertility and gynecological care. As a faculty member at the USC School of Medicine, Frank was on the cutting edge of infertility medicine in Santa Barbara and Southern California. For over four decades Frank cultivated profound doctor-patient relationships with generations of women and families who were so appreciative of his compassionate and skilled care.
While Frank’s mark on this community as a doctor is significant, perhaps his greatest love and passion was his family. Frank was the proud father of four and grandfather to eight. He was truly the patriarch of the Sale / Gamberdella family and a mentor to many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Frank led by example and instilled in his family a strong sense of honor and integrity, an unrivaled work ethic as well as compassion and commitment to those you serve in whatever your chosen path. Adapted from the Santa Barbara Independent.
