Palm Drive Health Care Foundation

2012 Hero in Health Care ~ Dr. Jorge Gonzalez

Arlene Harchut — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:04:27 +0000

Dr. Jorge Gonzalez, Chief of Staff at Palm Drive Hospital and Director of the Emergency Department, has been an integral part of Palm Drive since 2000. He is known for his extraordinary dedication to each of his patients as well as his unending support for Palm Drive. He always goes above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that every patient’s care is a top priority. The Superior Performance Rating of our Primary Stroke Center was due in large part to Dr. Gonzalez’s efforts to achieve and maintain the highest quality of care in our Emergency Department. Because of his hard work and tireless dedication, we are proud to award him as the recipient of the Heroes in Health Care award for 2012.

Dr. Gonzalez received his undergraduate training at UC, Berkeley in Bacteriology and medical school training at UC, San Francisco. He completed his primary care residency at the University of Wyoming. Dr. Gonzalez is a long time member of the American College of Emergency Physicians and is Board Certified in Family and Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Gonzalez and his wonderful wife Mary have been married for 37 years. He enjoys the opera, ballet, astronomy and reading history.

Thank you, Dr. Gonzalez for your selfless service to our community!

A Community Benefit for Palm Drive Hospital

Arlene Harchut — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:03:54 +0000

The Heart of Health Care ~ A Community Benefit for Palm Drive Hospital was a Success!

The Heart of Health Care Program

We are happy to report that the gathering of friends, doctors, hospital staff and community leaders on Sunday, October 21st at the French Garden Restaurant & Bistro for this year’s Community Benefit Dinner was a major success. The sold out dinner – donated so generously by French Garden owners Dan Smith and Joan Marler – provided net donations of over $40,000 to kick-off our three-year campaign to improve the Emergency Room facilities at Palm Drive Hospital.

Auctioneer Efren Carillo managed the spirited Live Auction to benefit the hospital and Master of Ceremonies Ted Williams introduced the key players for the evening’s program, including the new Executive Director for the Hospital, Tom Harlan. Dinner Committee Chair and Foundation Board member, Heidi Gillen, then introduced this year’s “Hero in Health Care Award” recipient, Dr. Jorge Gonzalez.We want to thank our Sponsors (listed below) and all of you who purchased a ticket and made donations to support your hospital. Things are definitely looking up for Palm Drive Hospital now and Sunday’s dinner was a wonderful celebration of our success.

Platinum Sponsor
French Garden Restaurant & Bistro, Dan Smith & Joan Marler

Gold Sponsor
Merry Edwards Winery

Silver Sponsors
Apple Valley Post-Acute Rehab
August Truth Cellars, Tom & Ruth Harlan
Codding Foundation
Jim Gomme
Kathleen Brennan & Thomas Waits
Mark Olson, Forestville Pharmacy
Marty Webb
Phillips & Thomas, Inc. CPAs
Roger Pitzen, MD

Community Heart Sponsors
Animal Hospital of Sebastopol
Bob & Heidi Gillen
Dennis Colthurst
Dutton-Goldfield Winery
Ed Bauman, PhD
Emeritus Vineyard, Brice Jones
Gail Thomas, Pooh Corner Farm
Harvey Henningsen
June Mendonca
Redhawk Glass, Inc.
Rose Draper Graphic Design
Sebastopol Hardware
Steve Mertens, MD
Stewart Goldberg

Community Supporters
Amy Schiff, LAc
Balletto Vineyards & Winery
Baskin Robbins, Sebastopol
Bluewater Bistro
Bodega Bay Lodge & Spa
David Bannister
Dawn C. Wiggins
Dr. James and Lynn Fitzwater
Exchange Bank, Sebastopol
Gone Tropo, Keith & Karen Miller
H&M Landscape
Jane Krensky & Peggy Tourje
Joanne Marion
John Moise
Judith Fenley, RN
McKesson Corporation
Michael Lipelt, ND, LAc
Korbell Cellars
Peace in Medicine
Pleasant Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary
Renga Arts
Sebastopol Inn
The Links at Bodega Harbour
The Tides Wharf Restaurant

Superior Stroke Program!

Arlene Harchut — Wed, 30 May 2012 21:25:42 +0000

News from Palm Drive Hospital:

Palm Drive Hospital’s Stroke Program was awarded Superior Recognition by HFAP. Special thanks to Val Takes and Dr. Allan Bernstein and to all staff who made this possible! Our new billboard shares the good news (on 101N just north of Todd Road, and 116W starting 6/12).

Pets, People and Illness

Arlene Harchut — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:25:36 +0000

Originally published in HHS HealthBeat, February 24, 2012

Having a pet can help someone who has an illness, and researcher Allison Webel of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, has ideas about how it works. Webel held 12 focus groups with 48 women, with an average age of 42, who had HIV.

Owning a pet came out as one of the things that helped women manage their illness:

“The routine work of feeding the pet, and walking the pet, and coming home to the pet – and all of those positive responsibilities leads women to best manage their health.”

Webel thinks that what she found in these women with HIV may also be the case with people who have other chronic illnesses.

The study in the journal Women’s Health Issues was supported by the National Institutes of Health, http://www.hhs.gov/news/healthbeat/2012/02/20120224a.html

Digital Mammography Machine for Palm Drive Hospital

Arlene Harchut — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:11:42 +0000

April 2012: Through your continued and generous support, Palm Drive Health Care Foundation contributes $150,000 towards the purchase of a Digital Mammography Machine for Palm Drive Hospital. At a recent District Board meeting, Dr. Gonzalez indicated the new machine will have the capability of adding Tomography for better imaging and will be the only one in the area.

Dr. Bernstein’s Headache Support Program at Palm Drive Hospital

Arlene Harchut — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:04:28 +0000

March 2012: $1,500 in support of Dr. Bernstein’s Headache Support Program at Palm Drive Hospital

“All About Headaches” Headache Education & Support Group Meeting Facilitated by Allan Bernstein, M.D., Neurologist, 4th Wednesday of Every Month 2012, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Conference Room, Palm Drive Hospital

Join Dr. Bernstein in an open‐ended discussion about the types of headaches, their causes, and the role of medicine, behavior and diet. Future meeting topics will be determined based on the group’s interest and needs. Our meetings are Free and Open to those who suffer from headaches, and to their family and friends.

Dr. Bollinger Enriches Local Students

Arlene Harchut — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:27:45 +0000

For the past several years, Dr. Michael Bollinger has volunteered as a teacher for the Gravenstein School District’s ENRICH! program, the acclaimed Creative Arts magnet program.

This year, Dr. Bollinger educated a group of 14 Hillcrest Middle School students on operating room procedures, with the help of Tina Runge, RN and Beth Wenderoth, RN. Dressed in scrubs, gloves, masks and foot gear, students went into the OR and learned what they would do during an actual surgery. Dr. Bollinger has also taught students about total knee procedures, fractures, plating and arthroscopy.

“They’re very excited. It’s fun to gross them out,” said Bollinger. “Some students told me afterwards they were interested in pursuing a career in medicine.”

Dr. Bollinger commented that this age group is underappreciated. “They are still very enthusiastic about learning new things. As long as you keep things interesting and exciting, they pay attention,” said Bollinger.

Thank You from Genie Dreyfus and Family

Arlene Harchut — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:35:43 +0000

Dear Foundation Board,

What a wonderful way to remember Jared! The garden is a beautiful spot to visit where many, even those who didn’t know him, can see how Jared touched many people by the way he lived his life.

Thank you for the lovely dedication get-together and the gift of hearing from people who thought so much of Jar.

Warm regards,

Genie and Family

Exercising This Week, HHS HealthBeat, March 26, 2012

Arlene Harchut — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:26:42 +0000

Feel like exercising this week? How about every week?From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Researchers have been tracking week-by-week changes in people’s motivation to exercise. And they say those don’t-feel-like-it weeks can really hurt the capacity to stick with the program.

At Penn State, David Conroy measured weekly intentions and physical activity performance of 33 college students over 10 weeks. He says people with the strongest weekly commitments were more likely to be successful. But he warns:

“Most people set goals without considering their commitment and how those commitments will change from a week-to-week basis.”

So good time management to work on consistency can help.

The study in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: March 26, 2012

Recurring Classes and Support Groups at Palm Drive Hospital

Arlene Harchut — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 18:03:01 +0000

Did you know that there are free community classes and support groups that meet at Palm Drive Hospital?

Support Group for Adult Caregivers, every Monday, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., TCU Conference Room, Contact Paula Shatkin, LCSW, 707.829.4118

Living with Chronic Conditions Workshop and Support Group, every Tuesday, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Conference Room, Contact Jennifer Foley, MFTI, 707.861.1030

Dementia Caregiver Support Group, 4th Wednesday of every Month, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Conference Room, Contact Jen Westcott, 707.239.2310

All About Headaches, 4th Wednesday of every Month, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Conference Room, Contact Dr. Allan Bernstein, 707.823.8511

Cancer Support Group, 1st Thursday of every Month, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Conference Room, Contact Terry Leoni, 707.829.5226