NORTH COAST, Calif. – MCHC Health Centers recently announced the addition of Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jerry Douglas to its executive team.

Dr. Douglas is a board-certified family medicine physician who said he chose MCHC because he likes the health center’s team-based approach and appreciates the fact that the organization is ahead of the curve when it comes to adopting health care initiatives.

“When I met with the executive team, you could tell they were really comfortable with each other and clearly focused on putting patients first,” he said. “They really have their act together.”

As Dr. Douglas’ Apple watch beeped, he smiled and admitted to being “a technology nerd from way back.”

He said he likes technology but is not a slave to it. In health care, he believes technology tools like the electronic health record are useful for recording, retrieving and analyzing data, but that “the EHR doesn’t make you a better doctor. That’s up to us.”

So while he enjoys computers, his defines his most important goal as staying fully present in each moment so he can provide patients and coworkers with his best work.

At the health center, his work will include treating patients as well as assisting the organization in achieving its strategic and operational goals.

“I also hope to help providers and employees stay connected to the reason they got into health care in the first place. Health care can be a high-stress environment, but it’s important to keep some fun in our work,” he said.

In the short time he has been with MCHC, Dr. Douglas has already made quite an impression, according to his colleagues. People in offices adjacent to his say they love hearing Dr. Douglas laugh, which is good because they hear it frequently.

“Dr. Douglas’ positive attitude and many years of experience in health care administration will help MCHC as we continually adjust in this ever-changing health care industry. Right now, things are moving from a quantity-based system to a quality-based system and it will take good leadership to navigate that transition. I’m really pleased Dr. Douglas has joined our team,” said Chief Executive Officer Carole Press.

Before arriving in California in 2009 to work for Adventist Health at the St. Helena Family Health Center in Clearlake, Dr. Douglas practiced medicine in a multi-specialty group in Lafayette, Indiana.

He attended the Indiana University of Medicine and completed his family medicine internship and residency at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

When he’s not caring for patients or working as an administrator, he enjoys painting (mostly with acrylics), reading, practicing Aikido, and spending time with his husband.

MCHC Health Centers provides comprehensive health services including primary medical care, pediatrics, dentistry, women’s health, obstetrical care, counseling, psychiatry, and specialty care, and looks forward to growing to meet the ever-expanding needs of the communities it serves.

MCHC Health Centers includes Hillside Health Center in Ukiah, Little Lake Health Center in Willits and Lakeview Health Center in Lakeport. Learn more at www.mchcinc.org .