physicians

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - El Dorado County health officials say another 35 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since yesterday. Of those, 15 are in El Dorado Hills, 4 in Cameron Park/Shingle Springs/Rescue, 1 in Greater Placerville, 2 in Diamond Springs/El Dorado, 1 in Pollock Pines/Camino/Kyburz, 13 in Lake Tahoe region. There is one less awaiting address confirmation, awaiting address confirmation for 12.

One of those new cases, one is under the age of 18, 26 are aged 18-49, seven are aged 50-64, and one aged 65 or older.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Barton Health has welcomed two new primary care providers, Krista Ault, MD and Tyler Peterson, DO, at its network of family care medical offices in South Lake Tahoe.

These physicians will expand community access to care, a priority of Barton’s in response to its Community Health Needs indicating access to health services being a top concern of surveyed residents in the local area.

Running a hospital takes a large team of professionals, all pulling together, often under tremendous stress. We often recognize our caregivers who have direct contact with patients. But behind every clinician is a team of people making sure she or he can do their job well and safely.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Dr. Kendra Yee received a "landslide" of nominations from staff and physicians to be the 2020 Barton Health Doctor of the Year.

Dr. Yee is Chief of COVID-19 Emergency Operations, Chief of Staff, Medical Director of the Emergency Department, and a practicing Emergency Medicine Physician at Barton Memorial Hospital.

Heartfelt nominations for Dr. Yee spoke to her vision and dynamic leadership on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic, and steadfast care for patients and healthcare workers alike:

We would like to express our sincerest appreciation and deepest thanks to the Barton Health team for their efforts to address the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis. This is an unprecedented time to work in health care, and the staff, physicians, and administration have risen to this challenge while showing perseverance, nimbleness, and strategic creativity. The dedication to their job and the brave face they don each day while arriving at work is humbling. As Board members and community members we are deeply moved by this courage.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Working closely with state and county health agencies in a regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Barton Health is preparing for an anticipated patient surge by more than doubling its hospital bed capacity as well as expanding its facilities to accommodate patients who may be infected by the virus.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Barton Health continues its expansion of medical imaging technology, investing in the latest equipment that enhances services, expands care, and improves the patient experience. The acquisition of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system has equipped Barton to now offer advanced MRI prostate and breast screenings. In addition, Barton’s Nuclear Medicine Suite recently completed a $1.2 million remodel to accommodate a new hybrid SPECT/CT scanning system that provides a new view on health issues within the body.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, there is currently a shortage of physicians in the United States – a shortfall that can be as high as 104,000 doctors by 2030. This issue, as well as an aging population, is changing health care and the need to increase providers to meet the demand of patients and expand access.

Barton is committed to providing our community with the care they need when they need it. We are expanding access to care by adding new experts throughout our healthcare system to work alongside Barton doctors.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Nurses Association (CNA) has served Barton Health with a ten-day notice of their registered nurses (RNs) intent to strike on Friday, September 20, 2019.

In November 2017 the nurses at the South Lake Tahoe hospital voted to unionize. At the time the RNs cited a desire to work for enhanced patient care staffing and standards for nurses as key reasons for affiliating with CNA.

Summer is here and after a snow-packed winter, locals and visitors alike are ready to get out and enjoy Lake Tahoe. Whether out on the water, lounging on the beach or hiking to a rock outcropping to take a plunge, there are important precautions to keep in mind with water surface temperatures and cold water immersion.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On Tuesday, April 2, 325 6th graders from South Tahoe Middle School, Zephyr Cove Elementary School and home-schooled youth, will spend the day at Lake Tahoe Community College going through the 16th annual Drug Store Project.

Since 2004, middle school students in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) have gone through the Drug Store Project (DSP), a day-long comprehensive drug prevention program designed to educate youth about the dangers of substance use and abuse.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Barton Memorial Hospital received a ten-day notice from the California Nurse's Association on Monday, informing them that the nurses at the South Lake Tahoe hospital intend to strike on February 15, 2019.

Negotiations have been ongoing between the nurse's union and Barton Health since the Registered Nurses (RNs) at Barton Memorial Hospital and Lake Tahoe Surgery Center voted 123 to 17 to unionize on November 15, 2017.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The first baby of the new year has arrived in South Lake Tahoe at Barton Health's Family Birthing Center. On January 2, 2019 at 5:38 p.m., a baby boy weighing in at 7 lbs. 8 oz. and 21" long was born to local residents Mordey and Shaina Richler.

This is the fourth child for the Richlers, who run Chabad Jewish Center. As customary with his parent's faith, Baby Richler will be named when he is eight days old.

Gregory Burkard Jr., DO is an interventional pain and sports medicine physiatrist who recently joined Tahoe Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. I sat down with him to learn more about his medical specialty and the services available.

Natasha Schue (NS): What exactly does a physiatrist do?
Dr. Burkard: I see and treat people living with pain. Pain can be caused by one or several factors. Most patients I see have pain from sports injuries, overuse injuries, and accidents that unfortunately resulted in functional disabilities.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Behind the scenes at Barton Health is a thriving culture of teaching and learning through specialized fellowship and medical residency programs. Just as Lake Tahoe attracts visitors from around the world, these programs attract doctors from around the world to gain experience in their medical specialty. By facilitating a constant exchange of experience and new practices, fellowship and residency programs elevate the clinical environment for Barton physicians and enhance quality care for patients.

Barton Health welcomed the first baby born in the New Year, Jessana Joyce Walker, on Tuesday, January 2 at 8:03 a.m. at Barton Memorial Hospital’s Family Birthing Center. She weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces and measured 19.5 inches long and was born to Julia Gomez and Javier Walker of Markleeville, Calif. The couple named their daughter Jessana as a blend of their mothers’ names.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Sandra Taylor, MD, FACS, MS has been added to the team at Barton Health as their third general surgery surgeon. Besides her expertise in general surgery and minimally invasive surgery., Taylor also has experience in trauma life support. As a Level III Trauma Center, Barton Health is equipped to quickly provide specialized, in-depth care for patients in the critical, “golden hour” of trauma.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Wilderness enthusiasts, healthcare professionals, first responders, outdoor educators, and medical students are encouraged to put their emergency medical knowledge to the test and sign up for the second annual Tahoe MedWAR Challenge on Saturday, September 9.

A free clinic with medical, dental and vision services will be in South Lake Tahoe on Monday, May 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Heavenly Valley Seventh-Day Adventist church.

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.

On behalf of the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless, I would like to thank Barton Health employees and physicians for their incredible generosity.

On behalf of the organizers of the Lake Tahoe Virtual Race, I would like to thank Lake Tahoe community members and businesses as well as Barton Health employees and physicians for their incredible generosity.

Barton Health recently hosted the first Virtual Race Challenge. Racers walked and ran for 72 days and recorded their mileage on a 72 mile digital map of Lake Tahoe. Together, with their financial contributors, the racers raised $4,044 in donations to help expand Barton Health’s Cancer Wellness Program.

When Krysinthia White’s team, 20 Percent Survival, completed the MedWAR Tahoe Challenge at the Taylor Creek Sno-Park, they knew it was not a first place finish. Yet they were still smiling after six flat tires, a bee sting, and multiple wrong turns.

“From our perspective, last place was the best place,” says White. “We had the entire lake [Fallen Leaf] to ourselves and pretty much the entire trail.”

20 Percent Survival is one of ten teams of wilderness enthusiasts and medical responders who participated in the inaugural MedWAR Tahoe Challenge on Saturday, September 17.