The longest-serving private physician on the Coastside not only runs, but is expanding, our free Rota Care service, reports Julia Scott in the County Times.
Dr. Josefina Enriquez will never have to worry about going hungry, like some of her patients.
That’s not because she charges an arm and a leg — in fact, she charges many patients nothing at all. In return, they bring her what little payment they can afford: the fruits of their labor on the Coastside.
“That’s how I survive. I don’t have to go to the market. The only thing I buy is milk because the fishermen give me fish, and the people who work in the fields give me vegetables, and tomatoes, and lemons,” said Enriquez, pulling a bag of lemons out from under her desk on a recent visit to her private practice in Half Moon Bay. “What can you do? They don’t have any money, and I promised to follow the Hippocratic oath; and if somebody is ill, you have to help them.”
Being flexible about payment is just one of the ways Enriquez — also known as “Dr. Joy” — has endeared herself to legions of patients and kept herself in business since 1982, making the 69-year-old grandmother the longest-serving private physician on the coast. But it doesn’t explain how she has managed to serve a staggering annual case load of 5,000 patients — 85 percent of them uninsured or dependent on low-income state or county care — while maintaining her sanity, making a profit, and finding time to run a free RotaCare clinic on the side.
Pacifica examines widening part of Hwy 1 to six lanes, Mar 15 9:49pm, Carl May — No, Route 1 does not become a freeway north of Reina del Mar in Pacifica. There is side traffic from the police station, the orchid nursery/GGNRA trailhead, Mori Point Road, and, especially, the dangerous intersection of Westport after RdM. Then ...
Pacifica examines widening part of Hwy 1 to six lanes, Mar 15 6:16pm, Barry Parr — We use the vet on that stretch of Hwy 1. A couple of years ago, we took Fireball to the vet. Julia was six and as soon as she got out of the car, she put her hands on her ears. I don’t blame her. I’ve been keeping track of sound levels in my ...
The Coastside's uninsured need your help, Mar 15 5:51pm, Suzanne Black — Excellent article, Cheryl. It brings home the national argument over health care reform. So much misinformation in the media and blogs! But it boils down to how we treat our neighbors—and our own and our families’ futures. Your advice is our best ...
Pacifica examines widening part of Hwy 1 to six lanes, Mar 15 5:23pm, Stephen Lowens — A few comments on the proposal to widen Highway 1 through Pacifica: Personal qualifications for these comments: A) 47 years of experience as a traffic engineer; licensed since 1975. B) Attendance at a seminar in El Granada on March 13, ...
Pacifica examines widening part of Hwy 1 to six lanes, Mar 15 3:08pm, Kevin Barron — The meeting is the first step to creating a Draft Environmental Impact Report. I’m curious if the draft EIR will include environmental impact of NOT widening the highway, given the pile of cars and trucks running on idle during the commute ...
Pacifica examines widening part of Hwy 1 to six lanes, Mar 15 9:28am, Barry Parr — That particular stretch of Hwy 1 is particularly unpleasant and potentially dangerous for pedestrians, including the patrons of the businesses on the east side of the highway. Widening the highway will exacerbate the problem. This will only seem ...
Seton resident's work on display in show at State Capitol, Mar 15 7:40am, Suzanne Black — Fabulous image! There’s no age or mobility limit on talent and creativity. Mr. Moses has the right idea: “It’s important to me to remain busy and productive regardless of where I happen to call home,” said Moses. “I hope others will also ...