Redwoods Rural Healthcare Center Hires New Executive Director and Permanent Providers
Redwood Rural Health Center has recently announced the hiring of Seth Whitmer as its new Executive Director, filling the role previously held by Tina Tvedt-Schiable. In an interview, Terri Klementson, the Director of Operations at Redwood Rural Health Center, expressed her excitement about Whitmer’s appointment, stating, “He just started about two weeks ago. So he is learning so much every day, and we are very grateful for his expertise, bringing that to our team here in Redway.”
Whitmer, who is new to the role, shared his vision for the health center, emphasizing his desire to support the existing team. “My vision is really just to keep things going and not get in the way of this amazing team that’s here making things happen,” he said. “Terri has …done an amazing job, and continues to do an amazing job. …We have a wonderful group of providers and staff that that …know what they’re doing, and the last thing they need is for me to get in the way and and prevent them from doing that amazing work.”
Whitmer, who has a diverse background in healthcare, including experience in long-term care, small critical access hospitals, government healthcare, and the military, is eager to collaborate with the community and the board of directors to identify new solutions. “My goal is to just support them, help them, to keep that going, and work with with them and and the community to identify what else can we be doing to to help the community, to get better care, or come up with more creative ways to to help and serve and work with our board of directors to to figure out the solutions as well,” he said.
The health center has faced challenges in recent years, including the struggle to hire and retain qualified professionals, a common issue for rural healthcare providers. Whitmer is committed to building a rewarding work environment that benefits both staff and patients, emphasizing the importance of putting patient care first. Despite the obstacles, Redwood Rural Health Center has announced the addition of four permanent providers, and the facility has also implemented upgrades, such as the addition of the Ochin EPIC system, to enhance the patient experience.
The influx of new permanent providers comes after a challenging period for RRHC, as the rural health center, like many others, struggled to hire and retain qualified professionals. This led to the use of traveling providers, known as locums, which caused frustration among patients. One patient expressed their concerns, saying, “It’s also confusing, because nobody seems to be able to say what is going on there, why it’s so impossible now to get a provider and I understand it’s hard in Humboldt County to get doctors and nurses up here, anyway, …it seems pretty extreme.”
Another patient shared their weariness, stating, “I’m getting a little weary. I don’t want to, I love Redwoods Rural Health Center, and that’s the reason why I’ve chosen to stay with them as long, but as of right now, and what I’ve experienced over the past six months to two years, I’m getting a little weary.”
The federal government projects a shortage of over 20,000 primary care physicians in rural areas by 2025, a challenge that has had an acute impact on RRHC. However, with the new provider additions, the health center is now on an upswing. Klementson encouraged patients to contact the front desk to choose the provider best suited to their needs, as the internal team works to schedule appointments with the new permanent providers.
As Whitmer settles into his new role, he expressed his happiness about joining the existing Redwood Rural team and his dedication to overcoming the challenges faced by the health center. “My vision is really just to keep things going and not get in the way of this amazing team that’s here making things happen,” he said. For more information about Executive Director Seth Whitmer visit https://sethwhitmer.com, or to schedule an appointment at Redwood Rural Health Center, please call 707-923-2784.
