The healthcare crisis and shortage that we face in Humboldt are in many ways reflective of broader social and economic struggles in the area, and it will be difficult to effectively solve the issues affecting health care without addressing those broader issues as a community. Doctors who work here want to fee...

In rural communities like ours, challenges compounded by low population density, isolated terrain and long distances to urban areas create barriers to attracting and retaining physicians and other healthcare professionals. At the same time, our community is faced with barriers to facilitating robust economic ...

One sure way to elicit a grimace and weary nod from others, both here in Humboldt and, frankly, anywhere in the U.S., is to complain about health care. Everyone has a story — trouble getting appointments, lack of specialists and, around here, the long trek to the Bay Area for care.

The design phase for the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) new state-of-the-art $28 million public health laboratory is complete and groundbreaking for the new facility at Wood and I streets in Eureka is expected as early as January 2028. Public Health’s current laboratory is in a n...

One myth about healthy eating that I wish I could quash for all time is that healthy eating is expensive. Of course, it can be, and if you can afford to buy the best, by all means do so. But it’s perfectly possible to eat delicious, healthy meals every day without breaking the bank. If you have these basic pa...

One year ago, our article for Senior News examined the problems with lack of availability of many medical services in Humboldt County. What has changed in the past year? Getting a primary care physician (PCP) in our area can be a challenge, although there are some signs of improvement. Medical groups in our a...

In 1979, after 30 years serving the rural communities of Southern Humboldt, the Garberville Hospital, one of the last privately owned hospitals in California, was about to shut its doors. A courageous band of community members — business leaders, timber people, ranchers, professionals, back-to-the-landers and...

What does a successful effort to improve access to health care in an isolated rural region like ours look like? The good news is that examples exist of best practices that worked elsewhere to create a better healthcare future.

At the end of December, I fell and fractured my left ankle, rendering me “non-weight bearing” on that leg. Suddenly, handicapped parking, accessible bathrooms and wheelchair ramps all took on new significance in my life. While my new disability is temporary, I began to consider what the world and our physical...

A visit to the doctor or diagnostic clinic may take a few hours of preparation, travel and execution, but the home care one provides for a partner with any kind of permanent disability is 24/7. My wife is among the first group of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) sufferers lucky enough to age with this debilitating dis...

Okay, we’re in our 80s. We’ve outlived the average lifespan, but we don’t know how much time remains. Maybe the question to ask ourselves is not, “How long do I have left?” but “How do I want to live the years I still have?” For example, I’m 83 and feel pretty good. My blood tests look good, I exercise every ...

After 46 years in the profession, I retired from my last nursing job in June 2025. Though retired, I will keep my license, both to keep future nursing options open but also because becoming an RN requires much blood, sweat and many tears. I’m not ready to let it go just yet. Did I LOVE it? Yes! It was a great...

In March, I had spinal fusion surgery to align and stabilize misaligned vertebrae and reduce pain from stenosis. And so begins another “organ recital” — a sharing of my aches and pains that come with the territory of aging body parts that don’t function the way they used to. It’s not my intent to bitch and mo...

If you live on the North Coast, you’ve likely experienced how challenging it can be to access healthcare services. The state designates our region as a “health professional shortage area,” meaning there simply aren’t enough providers to meet the needs of our population. Across the Redwood Region — Del Norte, ...

Have I got an exercise plan for you! No health club, no barbells, no cute leotards. No fancy equipment. And just 10 minutes. No sweat. It started with office workers who ran from one meeting to the next, or at-home telecommuters with days full of Zoom sessions. For people with neither the time nor the inclina...

Join the Redwood Interfaith Gospel Choir with special guests, the 50-member Oakland Interfaith Community Choir, on Saturday, May 30, for a night of high-energy gospel and spiritual music.