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At first, Kate Griffith didn’t think anything of a small flesh-colored growth on her bicep. It had regular edges and was symmetrical – showing none of the typical indicators of potential skin cancer. In November, the proprietor of Flying Goat Cellars in Lompoc went to see her primary care physician, Dr. Carl Schlosser. The mark on her arm had recently grown in size, and she was quickly referred to surgeon Dr. Bandhit Sinkaset for the removal of the growth, which was diagnosed as melanoma.

As a retired longtime Lompoc insurance agent, Bob Barboza is used to working with people. So coming to LVMC to volunteer as a “Blue Coat” helper when he retired seemed a perfect job.

Lompoc Valley Medical Center: Comprehensive Care Center (CCC) is screening all visitors for influenza-like illness at the skilled nursing facility due to an increase in influenza cases at the center. CCC staff is following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the management of influenza in long-term care facilities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies an “outbreak” as when two or more residents are confirmed to have influenza.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I truly love the Christmas season: the cold temperatures, the lights, the activities, time with family, the feeling that comes over you when you think of and give to others.

The risk for exposure to influenza during travel depends somewhat on the time of year and destination, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges people to take precautions. In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season can begin as early as October and can last as long as into April or May. In the Southern Hemisphere, flu activity usually lasts from April to September.

Dr. Tomas Machin has been named Lompoc Valley Medical Center (LVMC)’s 2017 Physician of the Year. An anatomic and clinical pathology physician, Dr. Machin was chosen by LVMC staff for exemplifying our values and for maintaining the trust of the community, patients, and residents; for continuously striving to improve services; for communicating openly and honestly and for working as a team member with hospital staff.

Jodi Meyer is new to the area, but at Lompoc Valley Medical Center: Physician Services, she quickly found a place to feel at home.

I am a Clinical Lab Scientist and I have been working in laboratories for almost 40 years. I had not heard of that type of job until I was almost 20 years old, so it was certainly not something I had been working toward in middle school and high school.

Many people look forward to the holiday season as a break from the madness of everyday life. It’s a break from social media, emails and the pace of news in our world.

Lompoc Valley Medical Center's Comprehensive Care Center was awarded a prestigious 5-Star quality rating this month from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The CCC is a 110-bed skilled nursing and post-acute rehabilitation facility at 216 N Third St.

Lompoc Valley Medical Center mourns the passing of Board of Directors member Linual A. White Jr., who died December 6.

Soon after he was elected to the board 3 years ago Linual was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. I have never seen anyone travel his path with such dignity and grace. He was a remarkable man and superior Board member. He will be missed by all. Our prayers go out to him and his family.

CCC Certified Nursing Assistant Mary Vega has worked 24 years without ever missing a day of work for illness. That’s quite an accomplishment, considering she works a physically and mentally demanding job, and in those years she also adopted her three grandchildren.

There are three key categories to maintaining good oral health. Good oral hygiene, routine oral checkups and cleanings, and management of diet, habits, and other health issues.

When an agitated and uncooperative patient began choking a Lompoc Valley Medical Center (LVMC) Emergency triage nurse, Paramedic Sarah Marsango jumped in to help without regard for her own safety.

Medical Assistant Cindy Emerson describes her job as a being a “little bit of everything.” She is the employee that patients of Dr. Ado Leporati interact with during appointments at Lompoc Valley Medical Center: Physician Services on Third Street (formerly Valley Medical Group).