Open Door Community Health Centers

Willow Creek Community Health Center continued from page 1

can’t handle everything – and there is an ambulance service in town for real emergencies – but for most non-life-threatening issues, we don’t expect someone to drive to the emergency room in Arcata or Eureka.

For those people who are established patients of the clinic, we’re on call 24/7.

It’s a real benefit of being a WCCHC patient.”

“We don’t have a lot of direct services in our community. There is no hospital, no home health agency, no hospice and WCCHC also has a comprehensive dental clinic open to children and adults. Above left, Dr. Jung examines Willow Creek resident Jan Joki. Above right, the WCCHC dental team (from left): Heather Callagan, July Gallamore, Paul Jung, Teresa Allen and Laura Borden. The October 27th North Coast Journal no specialty medical care Special Section will highlight Open Door dental services. providers in the Willow Creek community. We do supports the quality of life and to be the “family doctor” for our many of our patients need.” have to travel to the coast, or what the clinic does supports the friends and neighbors.”

“I work closely with the clinic the services on the coast have to quality of health.”

“This clinic is an essential part to serve our constituents well,” travel to us. That is why our clinic The Willow Creek Community of the community,” says Tamara says Tamara. “We’re an outpost has some things, like X-ray, that Health Center provides medical Jenkinson, the coordinator of the for lots of things. We help with other Open Door clinics don’t have.

Willow Creek Community Resource patient assistance programs, senior care for all ages, including We need to be able to take care of pediatrics, immunizations, wellness Center. The Resource Center, services and finding caregivers, many things right here,” explains check-ups for operated by St. Joseph Health CalWorks, Dr. Bensky. In addition to his duties men, women System – Humboldt County, is Medi-Cal at the clinic, Dr. Bensky worked and children not part of the community health applications, for many years at the emergency and treatment center, but it is located in the the County department of Redwood Memorial for a wide same building. “We work with a Mental Health Hospital in Fortuna. “I know For those people who are range of lot of the same people, providing branch; you Highway 299 better than I’d like to. established patients of the clinic, acute illnesses different services while focusing on name it and It is not easy on a clear day when and chronic the same goals.” we’ll try to you are feeling healthy. It is a real we’re on call 24/7. It’s a real conditions. It is trial for someone who is ill. We’re “Having Tamara and the resource help. In one benefit of being a WCCHC patient. also a place for committed to being responsive center next door is awesome,” case, I walked urgent care. says Erika Dykehouse, registered into Ray’s and flexible; we never know what’s - Erika Dykehouse “We get cuts, nurse and RN Coordinator of the Supermarket coming.” burns and Willow Creek Community Health and saw a other tourist Center. “There is a door between flyer for a Bringing Resources and camping the resource center and the clinic. job. I knew to the Community related injuries We send patients to Tamara’s someone who As Dr. Bensky notes, there are all summer office and she sends community had just lost few direct services in Willow Creek. long,” says Erika Dykehouse. “In members to the clinic. We provide her job. We sat down that day and “It’s a great place to live, but you the fall, we are prepared to stitch health care and the resource center worked on her application. Perfect up a few chain saw accidents. We provides the support services so timing. She got the job. What we continued on next page ➤

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OPEN DOOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS SPECIAL SECTION • THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011

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