Originally published: March 2025
Nestled within the Greater Sierra Sacramento (GSS) region, Alpine County is the smallest California county by population with approximately 1,100 year-round residents scattered across the rural, mountainous area along the Nevada border. With limited access to hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, primary care and pharmacies only accessible via a long and winding drive through the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains to South Lake Tahoe or traveling across state lines, residents faced significant challenges in accessing health care.
With the recent infusion of Future of Public Health (FoPH) funding, those challenges to health care access are quickly improving. Alpine County Public Health leadership was able to hire a dedicated nurse practitioner (NP) to serve the county, ensuring that county residents finally have regular, dedicated access to essential health care services.
The dedicated nurse practitioner is a lifeline for all residents. Based at the counties public health clinic in the small town of Markleeville, she serves older community members, children and families with unwavering commitment. Children benefit from well visits and routine vaccines, while adults have access to comprehensive lab services and primary care. The NP also plays a crucial role for the elderly, providing flu vaccines, necessary prescriptions, and regular check-ups for diabetes and cardiology. The rural frontier may pose significant barriers to healthcare access, but with FoPH funds, the clinic has made substantial improvements.
The nurse practitioner has been able to administer:
- 3,850 adult COVID-19 vaccines/boosters
- 8 child COVID-19 boosters
- 800 state-funded flu vaccines
- 330 high-dose flu vaccines for people aged 65 and older
- 46 adult pneumonia vaccines
- 56 adult Tdap vaccines
- 285 Vaccines for Children (VFC)
“Alpine is fortunate to have access to FoPH funding which we utilize to provide access to medical care. Alpine county i able to serve our residents including our tribal community, for Alpine’s residents these funds really are a lifeline.”
– Angela Slais, Alpine County Public Health Director
Due to housing constraints, the NP currently resides outside of the county, limiting the clinic's operation to just one week per month. Open from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the clinic serves around 50 patients monthly, averaging 10 patients per day based on their needs. Although the clinic operating hours are limited, the NP has helped improve access to healthcare and reduced the community’s need to travel to Nevada state or El Dorado County for essential healthcare services.
"Being a family practice clinic, I see people from newborns to elderly, teenagers, men and women. In addition to the challenge of diagnosing, I love getting to know the people of Alpine County and hearing the stories of residents is always delightful.”
– Patience Wenck, RN, MSN, Alpine County Family Nurse Practitioner
Services include:
- General medical care
- Health screenings for all ages
- Vaccinations
- Diabetes prevention and care
- Lactation and postpartum support for new mothers
- Nutrition counseling
- Tobacco cessation support
- Lab work
- Electrocardiograms (EKGs)
- Pre-employment exams
“Without these funds we couldn't provide health care to our residents or access to a nurse practitioner who can provide necessary preventative services.”
– Angela Slais, Alpine County Public Health Director
Slais expressed her pride in having a clinic that consistently offers essential services. With 30% of the county's residents belonging to the local Washoe Tribe, a population which often faces unique health care challenges and disparities, the clinic's presence has been transformative. Thanks to Future of Public Health funds, the lives of Alpine County's residents have been significantly improved, bringing health care services closer to home and ensuring a healthier future for the entire community.
Images courtesy of: Alpine County Public Health
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