Casa Pacifica Health Clinic (CPHC) was established in 1994. Unique to the group home setting, and because CPHC is located on the Casa Pacifica campus, the Residential Treatment Center is able to care for children with serious medical conditions as well as behavioral and social problems. Casa Pacifica’s mission statement for the health clinic has evolved over the years and states: All children deserve a nurturing and understanding environment where they receive their rightful access to proper and timely health care that incorporates all aspects of these growing human beings’ medical, psychological, and social needs.
Over the years, the Health Clinic has encountered a recurring pattern of specialty health care needs among the foster care population, and we have acquired an expertise in caring for foster children and at-risk youth complicated by various medical conditions such as Type 1 diabetes, cancer, aplastic anemia, seizure disorders, cystic fibrosis, as well as post-operative care patients, asthma, and morbid obesity, among others. Our Health Clinic team works collaboratively to ensure the best outcome for our children’s total health and is comprised of an on-call physician (Casa Pacifica is currently in transition to a new on-call doctor), two full-time Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, RNs, LVNs and Certified Medical Assistants (MA - who are scheduled on-site from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on-call 24/7), and a licensed psychiatrist. Currently, children are being transported to primary care doctors in the community for medical services. Casa Pacifica’s Health Clinic serves as a case manager for youths’ medical needs and collaborates closely with caregivers/staff, social workers, families and providers to ensure all the children/youth’s medical needs are met. Casa Pacifica does not provide physicals or immunizations in-house, but does provide psychiatric assessments, medication administration, and focuses on psychiatric services to its population of patients. Nurses and MA’s provide admission assessments, counseling, vision and hearing screenings, pregnancy testing, drug testing, and blood draws, as well as providing first aid care. Youth are monitored by the nurse for possible side effects or reactions to medications. Casa Pacifica’s MAs and nurses also accompany youth to specialty medical appointments (i.e. UCLA, endocrinology, nephrology, etc.) and help support cottage direct-care staff with transportation to primary care appointments.
To obtain further information or reach Casa Pacifica Health Clinic, please call (805) 445-7800 and ask to speak to our Health Clinic Administrator.