www.encinitaschamber.com
Volume 6, Issue 2
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February 2010
City offers extraordinary health care By Lillian Cox ENCINITAS — Since incorporation in 1986, the city of Encinitas has distinguished itself as a model community offering top-tier services in the areas of education, parks and recreation and public works. Few would argue that most relevant to individual lives is healthcare delivery. “Everybody’s worrying about the economy but at the end of the day there is nothing more important than your health,” said Marshall Weinreb, CEO of the Encinitas Chamber. “The funny thing is that inside this beautiful city, regardless of your medical needs, it’s all here. You don’t have to travel 20 or 30 miles away.” Weinreb emphasizes that those with top medical insurance are also choosing to seek treatment locally. “Dean Sally Foster of MiraCosta College, a breast cancer survivor, received all her care in Encinitas,” he said. “This is the point. People who can afford to go elsewhere like UCLA and Mt. Sinai don’t have to.
first in a four-part series
enjoys relationships with local hospitals that enable them to also offer labor and delivery services. Health screenings and services are provided on a sliding scale. “An overwhelming number of patients want to pay something for their healthcare and they do,” said Dana Withall, fund development director. “Self-pay has increased in the past 18 months because of so many job losses.” Case managers are able to connect patients needing follow-up care with specialists and hospitals through state assistance. “We are serving those who are most vulnerable and who may not have other choices in their health care,” Withall said. “There is a safety net in place in the community and it is well-supported. There should be no dental, mental concerns or questions as to health and vision screening who can access NCHS servand treatment. ices.” The Women’s and Children’s Health Center in Medical Groups and the former post office at Specialties 1130 2nd St. provides comNorth Coast Health plete OB/GYN, prenatal and ❚ see Health Care on 13 pediatric care. The clinic
ENCINITAS a health care destination
INSIDE Who is an employee? Learn the difference between an employee and independent contractor PAGE 4 David Boylan’s column ‘Lick the Marketing Plate’ tells readers about the latest trends in marketing PAGE 3
Find out the latest news about downtown Encinitas’ Pacific Station Project PAGE 10
A new piece of public art, ‘The Encinitas Child,’ is unveiled PAGE 13
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Details about the State of the City Address set for next month PAGE 13
Everything is represented in town at the highest level.”
We have it all.
Community Clinics Encinitas residents who are uninsured or underinsured, or are burdened with high deductibles and copays, have a safety net with North County Health Services. The nonprofit
operates two clinics in town staffed by physicians (some double-board certified), physician assistants, nurse practitioners and midwives. The Encinitas Health Center located at 629 2nd St. operates much like a family practice offering medical,
New life for Encinitas Visitor Center ENCINITAS — In the aftermath of major changes and restructuring, the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center is now running smoothly and efficiently, with an eye to the future. The center is the face of the chamber and the city, a connection for anyone staying in, passing through or even living in Encinitas, and Visitor Center Manager Pat Reinhardt is praised for her efforts to make that first impression a positive one. “Pat is one of best representatives the city could possibly have,” Chamber CEO Marshall Weinreb said. However, the future of the center may soon be made even more efficient, taking advantage of today’s top technology. Weinreb is looking toward gearing up the Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center Web site so that visitors can find everything they need at a touch. “I have spoken with City
Council on several occasions and have come to an agreement that when the Visitor Center contract expires in June 2010, we do away with its large, expensive location,” Weinreb said. “We agree that we can use technology and serve the public well via the Web site. In my opinion, a current, forward-looking Web site should be developed to generate all the services a Visitor Center should provide.” Weinreb is hoping that the public can be provided with touch-screen computer locations throughout the city — especially at the transit station — and he is willing to be the liaison for the creation of those locations as part of his existing job as head of the chamber. “If the city still wants to have a physical presence somewhere in town, I believe the center only needs a small, inexpensive office or could even share a space with some local busi-
ness at no cost to the city,” he said. “I want to applaud the long-standing volunteers who worked hard in past years, but apologize to the public at large for any confusion and for poor management and financial waste that went on at the Visitor Center,” Weinreb said. “Since the change of management in July 2009, that has all been set right.” “It is an honor and privilege to manage and be part of the Visitor Center. It is part of what the chamber stands for, and does promote business within the city. People will always look to the chamber to find out where to go, what to do, how to find things, but the center does not benefit the chamber financially, nor is it a hardship or does it cost us money. The Visitor Center benefits our members, who we are here to serve. It should never have been and is not now a money-making opportuni-
ty for the chamber. “Immediately after I was hired, the city began requiring detailed expense reports, and we were happy to provide them. We can’t imagine why the center hadn’t always been accountable to the city, and contrary to past management, I have never charged the city any money for any time required to work with the center as head of the chamber,” he added. “You would be amazed at the cross-section of people we get through here from all points of the globe,” Reinhardt said. “We have lots of Canadian ‘snowbirds’ who have homes here that they spend the entire winter in, but we also get visitors from Europe, Brazil, Mexico and Asia — just everywhere. Our referrals go to far more than one person for one day and that is crucial in today’s economy.” Reinhardt makes full use of the existing Visitor ❚ see Visitor on 2
Chamber CEO talks with Sen. Wyland By Lillian Cox CARLSBAD — The atmosphere was congenial but the questions were direct from Encinitas Chamber CEO Marshall Weinreb to Sen. Mark Wyland in a meeting in his offices on Jan. 8. It was the beginning of a new year and Weinreb went right to the point: What was Wy l a n d going to do in Sacramento to improve the enviSENATOR ronment MARK for local WYLAND business? “We need to create a clear, ❚
see Wyland on 13