FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fort Bragg Ca.  11/14/2025

Mendocino Coast Health Care District Appoints Mikael Blaisdell to the Board

Mikael Blaisdell takes the Oath of Office for the MCHCD Board

The Mendocino Coast Health Care District has appointed Mikael Blaisdell to fill a recently-vacated board seat. This is a short-term appointment that will conclude upon the certification of the November 3, 2026, election results by the Mendocino County Clerk.

At the regular monthly board meeting Agency Administrator Wylie provided an update on the mandated seismic retrofit of the Coast Hospital. The Design and permitting (Phase 2) is underway, with construction for structural work expected to begin around June 2027. Materials testing is projected for late 2026 through early 2027, and seismic strengthening is expected between 2029 and 2031. The overall cost of the project is estimated at $19.9 million with the district eligible for grant reimbursement from the state for a portion of this cost.  The district is currently working on a funding plan and expects to consider options at the December Board meeting. 

Both Board Chair Paul Garza Jr. and CFO Wayne Allen reported on the Rural Health Transition (RHT) federal program meant to support and strengthen healthcare in rural areas. Our Coast hospital may benefit because it is rural, frontier, and a critical access facility—though the District itself cannot directly receive funds since it has leased the operation of the hospital to Adventist Health. California has applied for the funding, which must be shared across many rural clinics and hospitals statewide. RHT funds can help expand access to specialists, improve telehealth services, support the rural healthcare workforce, and assist financially stressed hospitals, though they cannot be used for required seismic retrofit construction. 

Upcoming meetings include the Measure C Oversight committee meeting at 1:00 pm on December 1, and the next Regular Board meeting on December 18 at 5:00 pm.

Information on the seismic retrofit project can be found at the district’s website: http://mendocinochcd.gov
#   #   #