Tahoe health clinic transitions operations to Western Sierra starting in July

Published on May 26, 2017

Starting in July, Western Sierra Medical Clinic will provide medical and dental services to low-income North Lake Tahoe residents in place of Placer County’s current health clinic.

The county will cease operating the clinic, located at 8665 Salmon Ave. in Kings Beach, after June 30. The clinic will open to patients under Western Sierra July 5, providing medical and dental care from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays.

Western Sierra is a nonprofit organization serving communities in Sierra, Nevada, Yuba and Placer counties. Placer County officials have been working with the organization to transfer the clinic and its patients for several months. Most of the existing county medical staff will join Western Sierra, and several Placer County nurses will remain onsite.

The county will no longer operate health clinics directly, having transitioned operations of a clinic in Auburn to Western Sierra last fall.

“Like many counties, we are moving toward a community health center model that will be more cost-effective and flexible,” said Jeff Brown, director of Placer County’s health and human services department. “We are pleased that Western Sierra is taking over the health center and will continue to provide accessible, quality care.”

“We appreciate the opportunity to provide quality care and serve the residents of the Kings Beach community,” said Western Sierra CEO Scott McFarland.

Western Sierra will treat patients from Nevada and Placer counties and initially offer primary care and dental services for newborns to seniors at the Kings Beach health center, though additional services such as pediatrics and women’s health may eventually also be offered.

“Western Sierra and Placer County have made a major commitment to eastern Placer County and to its residents,” said District 5 Supervisor Jennifer Montgomery. “It’s critical that eastern Placer County residents have accessible, quality care, especially during the winter months when driving over the summit can be extremely difficult. Our alliance with Western Sierra Medical Clinic will be a benefit to us all.”