clint purvance

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - During both the South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting and the El Dorado County Board of Supervisor meetings on January 5, questions were asked of the health care professionals as to when the public can expect to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

The Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine may be in South Lake Tahoe by the end of next week, pending authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The vaccine gained approval by a panel of 22 experts on Thursday by a vote of 17-4 in favor of recommending the FDA give it the green light (one panelist abstained).

El Dorado County is hosting a virtual Town Hall meeting with a panel of experts from the health and education fields to explain the current COVID-19 situation on November 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Those on the panel:

Dr. Dean Blumberg - Pediatric Infectious Disease specialist, UC Davis
Dr. Clint Purvance - President/CEO Barton Health
Siri Nelson - President/CEO Marshall Medical
Nicole Ebrahimi-Nuyken - El Dorado County Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Director
Ed Manansala - County Superintendent, El Dorado County Office of Education

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Internationally recognized psychiatrist, Joe Hibbeln, MD, has joined Barton Health’s team of expert mental and behavioral health providers. A board-certified physician, Dr. Hibbeln is working with patients over 18 years of age at Barton Community Health Center in South Lake Tahoe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Chamber is holding another virtual town hall meeting on Friday, June 26 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This week will be a health update on COVID-19 from Barton Health.

Speakers will include:

- Dr. Clint Purvance, CEO, Barton Health
- Steve Teshara, CEO, Tahoe Chamber

There will also be an update on testing for the coronavirus underway at Lake Tahoe Community College.

Register in advance for the Virtual Town Hall at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UuLB7cK8Qka6He4_6ibHtA

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Barton Memorial Hospital received news of another ‘A’ grade for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group. Assessment data from 28 quality measurements demonstrated better patient outcomes at the Lake Tahoe hospital; the result of collaborative, team-driven systems in place at Barton Health that protect patients from harm.

The Tahoe Chamber is holding another Virtual Town Hall on Friday, April 10, this time with Dr. Clint Purvance, CEO of Barton Health, and Chris Kiser, Executive Director of the Barton Foundation.

From 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Tahoe Chamber CEO Steve Teshara will lead the conversation as they discuss the hospital's efforts to combat the coronavirus crisis, the COVID-19 Response Fund, and what the community can do to mitigate the spread.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Barton Health continues to adapt and respond to the spread of coronavirus COVID-19 in the community. The health and safety of patients and care providers is the top priority, and operational changes continue to evolve at Barton Memorial Hospital and across Barton’s coordinated network of medical offices in preparation for any potential surge in patient care.

The following is a press release from Barton Health, Carson Tahoe Health, Marshall Medical Center and Tahoe Forest Health System:

With the continuing spread of COVID-19 within the U.S., the healthcare providers of the greater Lake Tahoe/El Dorado Region are working closely with each other and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as California and Nevada health authorities, to care for affected individuals. We are also jointly taking steps to limit person-to-person spread within our communities.

Information about COVID-19

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Barton Health’s surgery department offers state-of-the-art technology with the recent acquisition of a $2.1 million da Vinci Xi Surgical System. The da Vinci Xi System features the latest in robotic-assisted surgery that is minimally invasive and can reduce a patient’s time in the hospital. Barton offers robotic surgery procedures in the areas of colorectal, gynecology, and general surgery.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An active shooting training at South Tahoe High School last week gave local, state and federal agencies the opportunity to use their collaborative skills in responding to an emergency at the school.

In the simulated event after school, a call went over the radios on a secure channel to alert all first responders of a shooting at the high school and with the shooter still on the loose. At the first call, there were seven "victims" (volunteers acting for the training).

During Volunteer Appreciation Week, April 7 – 13, we celebrate those who give their time and energy to improve the lives of others. The benefits of volunteering go beyond lending a helping hand. Studies show volunteers have significant health benefits such as lower blood pressure, decreased likelihood of depression, and an increased sense of purpose and life satisfaction.

Volunteers are the bedrock of Barton Health. More than 55 years ago, our hospital was founded by volunteers, and the spirit of helping to support our community’s health thrives within our organization to this day.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Traffic is nothing new in South Lake Tahoe and Meyers, but Sunday traffic leaving Lake Tahoe has become worse once tech-savvy drivers learned how to navigate side roads. Residents cannot leave their homes for fear they won't be able to get back for hours, and drivers trying to make it back to Sacramento and the Bay Area get frustrated with standstill hours-long lines.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Many in the community were just getting their day underway on Thursday when they heard of the passing of Dr. Stephen Bannar, a respected orthopedist whose talent was known beyond the borders of our country.

The doors are now officially open at the 26,000 square foot state-of-the-art Robert Maloff Center, home to the Barton Center for Orthopedics & Wellness.

During a ribbon cutting ceremony at the South Lake Tahoe facility Thursday, July 12, Lisa Maloff was honored for her $10 million donation in her late husband's name that made the dream to improve community health and well-being of others a reality.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The votes have been counted and Dr. Keith Swanson has been named Barton Health’s Doctor of the Year. Each year, hundreds of Barton team members cast their vote to nominate a favorite physician in honor of National Doctor’s Day, and the 2018 winner was announced at Barton’s Doctor’s Day Celebration on March 29.

“We honor Dr. Swanson as our Doctor of the Year, and the incredible contributions he’s made to the community as an orthopedic surgeon and practitioner of nearly 40 years,” said Dr. Clint Purvance, CEO at Barton Health.

Registered Nurses (RNs) at Barton Memorial Hospital and Lake Tahoe Surgery Center voted 123 to 17 to unionize during a secret ballot taken Wednesday night according to the California Nurses Association (CNA).

After the Barton Health vote, 3,000 caregivers in 10 union elections have voted to have collective representation in California in 2017.

“A record of incredible accomplishment for CNA that will strengthen the ability of RNs to promote safer care conditions for all Californians,” said CNA Co-President Malinda Markowitz, RN, who is also an NNU vice-president.

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. – This week the Leap Frog Group, a nonprofit organization committed to driving quality, safety, and transparency in the U.S. health care system, released the new Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. Hospitals nationwide are assigned an A, B, C, D or F letter grade. Barton Memorial Hospital was one of 823 hospitals to receive an “A” for its commitment to reducing errors, infections, and accidents. This is the third consecutive “A” Barton Hospital has received.

South Lake Tahoe, CA – The votes have been counted and Lance Orr, MD has been named Barton Health’s Doctor of the Year.

Dr. Orr is a board-certified emergency physician and medical director at Barton Hospital’s Emergency Department. He is considered a “physician of all trades” and is currently acting as Barton Health’s interim Chief Medical Officer.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - Barton Health has hired seasoned human resources leader Elizabeth Stork as their new Human Resources Director.

“We are pleased to have Elizabeth on board,” said Dr. Clint Purvance, Barton Health’s CEO and President. “She brings both the tools and passion for helping our employees deliver consistently exceptional care and reach their full potential.”

Stork has more than 15 years of experience working in human resources. She most recently served as the Vice President of Human Resources for a non-profit home health and hospice agency in Washington State.

The South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting on Tuesday will feature the following topics:

Commercial Floor Space - Doctors Steve Leman and Clint Purvance have applied for Commercial Floor Space allocations (CFA) for three projects at the Y area. Together they are asking for 6,170 square feet of CFA from the City's allotment for a building at 941 Emerald Bay Road. Leman himself is asking for 4,621 square feet at 2215 South Avenue and another 4,025 at 1072 4TH Street. He also wants to purchase another 28,940 Square Feet of 1B Banked Land Coverage from the City.

Dr. Clint Purvance has announced the addition of three new physicians to the Barton Health team in South Lake Tahoe: Dr. Sherellen Gerhart, Dr. Danielle Priem and Dr. Saul Zelan.

Sherellen Gerhart, MD is Barton Palliative Care's physician. Palliative Care is a new service line created to help patients develop an optimal care plan catered to their individual health and comfort needs once diagnosed with a terminal illness, but not yet ready for hospice; learn more below. Dr. Gerhart is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Palliative and Hospice Medicine, and Geriatric Medicine.

On behalf of the physicians and staff at Barton Health, I want to thank the Barton Auxiliary for volunteering their time and providing generous donations for our health and wellness efforts.

Dr. Rhonda Sneeringer has been promoted to Barton Health's Chief Medical Officer, replacing Dr. Clint Purvance who is the hospital's new President/CEO.

She will start her new job November 1.

Dr. Sneeringer has been a pediatric and adult hospitalist at Barton for the past three years. She currently serves as the Vice Chief of Staff.

"Dr. Sneeringer has shown commitment to quality and patient-centered care" said retiring CEO John Williams. "This commitment, coupled with her enthusiasm, will help continue our efforts to make Barton Health a community leader in health and wellness."