Mendocino Coast District Hospital » Health and Wellness

MCDH Health and Wellness Festival 2011

ray — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 01:31:53 +0000

Donna Schuler, Wayne Allen, Roni McDermott

Last Saturday Mendocino Coast District Hospital hosted the Fifth Annual Mendocino Coast Hospital Health and Wellness Festival. And according the virtually eveyone involved, this one was the best one yet! The Festival Organizing Committee has been Chaired every year by Chief Clinical Officer, Roni McDermott. This is what Roni had to say afterward. “This year we provided over 730 screening exams for blood pressure, oxygen saturation, blood glucose, hearing, lipid panel, balance, bone density and % body fat composition. This is a big increase over previous years. In 2009 we did 206 tests and in 2010 we did approximately 600. We also had over 35 exhibitors, making this the largest festival in 5 years!” Roni added “We could not have put on such a great show without our volunteers that made it all possible. Every one of our volunteers showed up ready to work and to do whatever it was going to take for a successful event.”

This year a challenge was issued to all MCDH employees to accumulate the most “personal power points” for fitness activities. The prize for the most points accumulated was a WiiFit. The winner of the WiiFit was Heidi Olsen. Thank you Roni and thank you to members of the Committee, especially Marte Tubbs and Elizabeth Luevano.

Wellness Day at the Elementary Schools

ray — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:31:52 +0000

: Mendocino Elementary School

On December 8, the holidays came early for second grade children at Mendocino Elementary School and Fort Bragg Elementary School. On that day I had the pleasure to meeting the second graders and talking about the importance of good health and wellness. Each second grader received a copy of the Wellness textbook entitled “Fish Breath.” Fish Breath, written by Kelly Mather, is an excellent tool to teach young children the healthy habit of Diaphragmatic breathing. Diaphragmatic breathing is generally considered a healthier and fuller way to ingest oxygen. Each book was wrapped in colorful holiday wrapping paper. This was followed by a series of floor exercises that Kelly Mather led for the children. It was good for me to get down on the floor with the kids and join in the healthy exercising.

I am so proud that our hospital is promoting health and wellness in our community, and taking it to the school children, as well. The following day, on December 9, books were also delivered to the Montesori School and the Three Rivers Private School in our community. If we are going to become healthier and more aware, as a Nation, it is important that we begin with the children.

2009 Health and Wellness Festival is a Success

ray — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:12:23 +0000

Kelly Mather and Leslie Lovejoy

Last Saturday Mendocino Coast Hospital held it’s Annual Health and Wellness Festival. This year was very special because it also served as special recognition for the local hospital’s commitment to transforming itself into a healing hospital. Following a musical opening by Harpist, Roberta Belson, I began the Festival by speaking to the nearly 300 people in attendance about why MCDH chose to become a healing hospital. In my remarks, I said that “healing is nothing new at the hospital. The Coast Hospital has been healing the people that have honored us by choosing to come here for over 35 years.” I said that the term “Healing Hospital” refers to a new breed of hospital, that not only serves the traditional role of curing disease and disorders, but who have also adopted a vision of a healthy community and created a healing environment with soothing sounds, colors, healthy food and natural beauty. As a healing hospital, MCDH embraces integrative medicine with many local healing arts providers. Following my opening remarks, I was presented with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition by Christine Anderson on behalf of Congressman Mike Thompson.

Living Light Culinary Arts

The next presentation was by Kelly Mather, President of Harmony Healing House. She gave the room an overview of what MCDH has accomplished. She then made a presentation of a glass “Rainbow Drop.” The Rainbow Drop was in recognition of MCDH’s transition to a Healing Hospital. She said that it symbolizes the ripple effect of wellness from impacting individuals and then spreading to the entire community.

I have no doubt that this year’s Health and Wellness Festival was the largest and most successful event sponsored by MCDH for many years. During the 4 hour event, which included 45 exhibitor tables and 7 free health screening services, there was plenty to see and do. This year the hospital opened up it’s operating room and offered tours and demonstrations of a simulated knee arthroscopy procedure. It also offered events for children including a bounce house and horse drawn wagon rides. However, for many attendees the highlight of this year’s Festival was the 4 featured speakers who spoke to audiences of approximately 20-30 people in size. The speakers were Ken Rose, an author and educator of Chinese Medicine, Antonio Wuttke, a Master Gardener and Veteran Land Restoration Specialist, Alena Guest, Hynpotherapist, and Ryanne Snow, who spoke on Medicinal Mushrooms. I am very grateful to our team of volunteers that planned and organized this event. The event organizer, Roni McDermott, had 75 hospital employee volunteers who worked during the event in addition to members of the Auxiliary, Chaplains and community volunteers. Everyone seemed to have a very good time and went away with a lot of knowledge that they did not have at the beginning of the day. Perhaps the biggest hit of the day was the introduction of our robot – who still does not have a name. However that may change soon. There was a “Name the Robot” suggestion box at the Festival too!