Pride and gratitude

Last month, Alliance Medical Center was contacted by the Health Resources and Services Administration, the branch of federal government that oversees Federally Qualified Health Centers. HRSA wanted to study how we work with pregnant women. It turns out that Alliance is in the top 1 percent in the nation in prenatal care! More than 90 percent of our patients who are expecting are receiving medical care beginning in their first trimester.
Consistent prenatal and postnatal care are important indicators of a healthy life. Children whose parents show that level of caring and commitment thrive in school, careers, and life, and we are proud to be part of the healthcare safety net for the communities we serve.
It’s a great feeling, to be proud of our medical providers and staff for their dedication and skill, but we also feel a profound gratitude, not only to our staff, but to the community. It was 10 years ago this week that Alliance Medical Center opened the doors to our new facility here in Healdsburg, in the heart of the medical campus already occupied by Healdsburg District Hospital and so many private practice physicians and dentists.
The building was a remarkable collaboration between Alliance, the City of Healdsburg, and the community. The city was able to obtain a low interest loan to construct the building, after purchasing the land from the hospital. Congressman Mike Thompson came through with a federal grant, members of the community helped raise funds, and a modern, well-equipped community health center came into being.
In case you’re wondering, Alliance makes the monthly loan payment and pays for interior improvements and maintenance, so the taxpayers are not liable for the cost of running the health center, except for the tiny portion of income taxes that comes back to us in the form of federal grants that allow us to care for the neediest in our community.
We have more happy news. Alliance was recently awarded a $516,000 grant from the First 5 Commission that will allow us to expand our dental services to children. Next spring, we will open three new pediatric dental chairs, allowing us to see thousands of children whose families have limited incomes.
This is another crucial service that our community needs. Almost 88 percent of uninsured children in Sonoma County missed two or more days of school last year due to dental problems. Our dental and medical providers work closely together to make sure pregnant mothers and young children get proper care and learn good oral hygiene practices.
The last couple of years have been challenging at Alliance Medical Center, and we are grateful to have a positive cash flow again. The need is still – and will always be – great, but we feel a renewed sense of purpose and optimism. While we begin our second decade in our new facility, we are reminded that we were founded almost 43 years ago, and we look forward to many years of service to our community. Alliance is here to stay.
Sandy Beddow is the chair of the board of directors of Alliance Medical Center.