Huffman Tours Redwoods Rural Health Center’s Remodeled Facilities

Congressman Jared Huffman with RRHC board and staff [All photos by Lisa Music]

Congressman Huffman, representative of the 2nd Congressional District, has been a champion of legislation to aid in health center funding. On Monday, RRHC’s Executive Director, Tina Tvedt Schaible expressed gratitude for Congressman Huffman’s support in securing funds that enable the rural health center to provide health care to residents of Southern Humboldt and the Eel River Valley.

RRHC was founded in the early 70s as residents sought out equitable and alternative healthcare options for members of their rural community.  The mission remains today. Forty-four percent of the health center’s 2022 $11.2 million revenue was from Medicaid and Medi-Cal insurance. Federal grant funding accounted for 32% of the health center’s revenue.

With the additional grant funding from the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan (ARP), RRHC was able to update their facilities with HVAC replacement, new flooring, lobby redesign, replace dental cabinetry, and provide new medical exam room furniture & equipment.

Newly remodeled lobby of RRHC’s medical building

Tvedt Schaible stated that the new medical equipment provided more accurate readings and the new furniture allowed for better ease of use for patients with mobility issues as well as providing a more inviting and relaxed environment for patients.

At the end of the medical remodel tour, Tvedt Schaible and board members escorted Huffman to the adjacent property where staff housing and additional parking will be constructed. Housing shortages and the remote nature of the area has been a hurdle in attracting qualified healthcare professionals to the area, a problem the RRHC staff and board believe will be remedied with staff housing.

A proponent of affordable housing projects, Huffman was encouraged by the health center’s plans.

RRHC Staff Housing Development designs (not a final rendering)

In addition to the staff housing plans, the RRHC has been expanding its services, adding the Briceland Road satellite dental clinic in 2021 to its growing facilities list that includes a satellite medical clinic in Fortuna as well as mobile medical and dental vans and school-based sites in Redway, Miranda, and Rio Dell.

Dental visits account for 48% of all patient visits to the health center. Since the opening of the satellite dental clinic on Briceland Road that doubled their dental capacity, RRHC has been able to hire two additional dentists and a dental hygienist. In what Tvedt Schaible described as a “dental desert”, RRHC has been able to start taking new patients for the first time in decades.

Congressman Huffman talks with local contractor doing demolition at the future site for staff housing.

RRHC has been expanding their behavioral health options as well with the continued ability to access patients using telehealth allowing providers to offer care to patients that may struggle to attend in-person appointments. There is currently a waiting list for behavioral health appointments, but Tvedt Schaible said the health center is hoping to hire additional personnel to meet patient needs.

Renovated lobby of the RRHC dental building on West Coast Road

RRHC also offers prenatal and postnatal healthcare. With the nearest birth center sixty miles away, Tvedt Schaible said that patients are able to access health care services at the health center who can coordinate care with the hospital or birthing center of the patient’s choice. Offering services closer to where patients reside reduces the financial cost and stress associated with traveling great distances for care.

Expanded services equal expanded staff. RRHC has increased its staff to 50 full-time employees, a 26% increase since 2018. Encouraging local residents to enter the healthcare profession, RRHC grants two $5000 college scholarships to Southern Humboldt residents focused on the medical field.

Congressman Huffman and RRHC’s Executive Director Tina Tvedt Schaible

As Tvedt Schaible and team celebrate their successes, they continue to advocate for healthcare services for their patients and community. In addition to expressing gratitude for Huffman’s support of health care funding, the executive director took the opportunity to champion for expansion of Medicare coverage of chiropractic and acupuncture services that are not currently covered at Federally Qualified Health Centers like RRHC. Additionally, she asked for Huffman’s help in reducing the “burdensome” administrative requirements for dental treatment of the country’s Veterans.

Huffman and staff took note of Tvedt Schaible’s requests and thanked her for bringing their attention to the hurdles to care for Veterans and seniors.

Redwoods Rural Health Center offers medical, dental, behavioral health, acupuncture, perinatal care, chiropractic services, suboxone program, nutritional education, and COVID-19 vaccination. For a full list of their services, visit their website or call 707-923-2783 to schedule an appointment.

RRHC is currently surveying the needs of the community. To participate, click here.