Coastal Healthcare clinic working to expand health care access

Watsonville Community Hospital has launched a new clinic to improve access to primary care amid doctor shortages and impending federal cuts.

https://www.ksbw.com/article/watsonville-hospital-clinic-working-health-care-access/69381696

KSBW-TV : Watsonville Community Hospital opened the Coastal Healthcare clinic in January to expand access to primary care, offering same-day care and accepting most health insurances, as hospitals nationwide face doctor shortages and federal funding cuts.

"Being part of the solution and also welcoming in new providers is really an exciting part of my work," Shannon Clasen, a family nurse practitioner, said.

Dr. Frank Ravago postponed his retirement to support the new program, addressing the growing doctor shortage.

A report from UCSF indicates nearly half of physicians statewide are over 55 years old, with many nearing retirement.

Fewer doctors are entering the field due to heavy student debt, and hospitals on the Central Coast struggle to recruit doctors because of the high cost of living.

The hospital could lose between $4 million and $9 million annually starting in 2026 due to federal cuts.

More than 93% of Santa Cruz County residents have health insurance, but a county report estimates premiums for Covered California plans could increase by an average of 66%.

Ravago emphasized the importance of community support, saying, "The hospital is focused on trying to get assistance from the government and from our local government, and the community needs to stand up and provide that support to the hospital and the clinic because it's theirs."

The clinic sees about 25 to 30 patients daily, benefiting from reduced record-keeping time, allowing doctors to focus more on patient care.

Artificial intelligence assists with electronic records, and secondary staff members help with scribing, enabling doctors to spend more time talking with and educating patients.

"Patients have a life, too," Ravago noted. "They're working mothers. They're working fathers," and added, "I also make it a point that they don't wait because no one waits. No one wants to wait."

At least 21,000 residents could lose their health coverage by 2028 due to new Medi-Cal eligibility requirements and California's budget cuts for immigrants.