Since its inception as a non-profit organization, the mission of West County Health Centers, Inc. (WCHC) has been to keep the rural communities of Western Sonoma County healthy. In the early 1970’s, a dedicated group of individuals in Guerneville, California banded together to find a way to build a local health clinic in their area. Though the quality of healthcare in western Sonoma County has significantly improved since 1974, the community still suffers from deep-set issues that present challenges for achieving the health center’s mission.
Due to limited accessibility, poor roads, lack of communication and few other resources in the area, the community suffered from an absence of basic medical services. The efforts of the community group were rewarded in 1974 with the opening of the Russian River Health Center (RRHC) in Guerneville, California. The success of RRHC was followed two years later by the creation of the Occidental Area Health Center (OAHC) by a local community group in nearby Occidental, California. For nearly 20 years, OAHC and RRHC developed their respective programs and services as independent organizations. The two organizations were each granted Rural Health Clinic status in 1989. In January 2000, the common mission of RRHC and OAHC finally united the two organizations in a merger that combined their resources to create West County Health Centers, Inc. In 2008, the Sebastopol Community Health Center was opened, providing a third West County location for primary medical care, mental health counseling, and HIV specialty care.
Though the quality of healthcare in western Sonoma County has significantly improved since 1974, the community still suffers from deep-set issues that present challenges for achieving the health center’s mission. WCHC’s 770 square mile rural service area is characterized by unique demographic, socio-economic, cultural and health status indicators that significantly impact health care need, access and service delivery.
• 72 % of our client target population lives below 200% of poverty (35 % are below 100%). Substandard housing is commonplace.
• 400 -500 homeless people are estimated to live in the service area.
• 38% of our clients are uninsured, a 10% increase since 2004.
• 25% are Medi-Cal program recipients.
• 23% are ethnic minorities, primarily Spanish-speaking, who often have few resources, limited English skills, and extensive needs for health care.
• HIV infection, heart disease and cancer rates, depression, and substance abuse are particularly significant concerns for the service area.
West County Health Centers continues to provide comprehensive, quality and accessible health care services to the communities of western Sonoma County.Throughout its history, WCHC has actively addressed the health needs in the community as evidenced by programs for special populations that have been developed over the years
In 2010, WCHC served over 10,000 patients, with more than 40,000 recorded visits. Throughout its history, WCHC has actively addressed the health needs in the community as evidenced by programs for special populations that have been developed over the years including an integrated HIV/AIDS early intervention program; a model teen clinic and adolescent health program located at its own site in Forestville; a health education, screening and referral program for day laborers in Graton. WCHC patients, community, and staff play an active and ongoing role in establishing service priorities and evaluating our success in meeting these priorities. A strategic planning process, which includes collecting patient feedback and conducting a community needs assessment, is in place and is updated every three years to establish agency-wide priorities, goals and objectives. WCHC also places an emphasis on collaborating with other community agencies, including the County of Sonoma, Department of Health Services, Redwood Community Health Coalition, West County Community Services, Russian River Chamber of Commerce, and Palm Drive Hospital. Through these partnerships, WCHC has a broader impact and is able to achieve the vision of a community where all residents have a medical home and people are empowered to build healthy lives and communities.
