New Half Moon Bay Clinic Offers Expanded Health Services

Local patients will have increased access to an array of medical, dental, and vision services this year, thanks to $1.7 million in stimulus funds granted from a federal health agency to the San Mateo Medical Center's in Half Moon Bay.

The clinic reopened its doors on December 18 after closing in May for seven months of construction. Planning for the project commenced in July 2010 as a collaboration between the San Mateo Medical Center and the county's public health and public works departments.

Funds were granted by the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA).

Located in Shoreline Station off Highway 1 and Kelly St., the newly expanded clinic occupies 8,800 sq. feet on the first floor — over 7 times its original size of their 1,200 sq. feet space on the building's second floor.

"We'll now be able to double our number of patients," said Patrick Grisham, Clinic Manager. Currently, the clinic sees between 400-450 patients a month who are covered through Medi-Cal or county health plans, according to Grisham. Grisham estimated that about half are Spanish speakers.

While the clinic used to provide one day a week of primary adult care, two days of pediatric care and two days a week of obstetrics/gynecology care, it now has the potential to offer all three types of care simultaneously.

The expanded space has also allowed room for a dental clinic, dental lab and one optometry exam room. Headed up by dentist Ann Marie Silvestri, the dental clinic plans to roll out services in late February or March, Grisham said.

With an projected staff of nine providers (1 supervising physician/primary care doctor, 1 charge nurse/RN, 1 OB/GYN doctor, 2 OB/GYN nurse practitioners, 2 pediatricians, 1 optometrist and 1 dentist), the clinic expects to more than double their number of on-site providers. One primary care doctor, one pediatrician, and two OB/GYN nurse practitioners staffed the clinic when it was located on the building's second floor.

Public health services will also be offered, including county WIC (Women, Infants and Children) and dental education from the in coordination with the clinic's dental department.

The RotaCare clinic will operate on site once a week on Wednesday evenings.

Thanks to an extra $350,000 in funds available after the construction came in under budget, the clinic purchased new medical equipment including an ultrasound, a colposcope used to examine abnormal pap smears and a LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure) device used to remove abnormal cervical tissue. New optometry exam and dental services equipment were also acquired.

Those who do not receive medical care from the Coastisde Clinic can also benefit from the clinic's expansion. Grisham says that the clinic's conference room is available for local groups to hold meetings in the evenings at no charge. The conference room faces the city's .

A ribbon cutting/grand opening ceremony will most likely take place in late January or in February, Grisham said.

The Coastside Clinic is located at 225 South Cabrillo Highway in Half Moon Bay (Shoreline Station). Its operating hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Clinic manager Patrick Grisham said that he hopes to expand hours to Saturdays in the future. To reserve the conference room, individuals should contact the clinic at (650) 573-3941.

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