| Feeling Sick? Get in Your Boat and Cruise to the Doctor |
| By: Catherine French | Thursday, October 02, 2008 12:00:00 AM |
| Last updated: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 11:04:00 AM |
Channel Islands Harbor physician offers medical care with a dockside twist.
 | | | Photo by: Catherine French photo | | Seasick Service -- Why step on land when the doctor will come to you? In addition to a dock for boat-in patients, Dr. Gary Mitnick plans to offer housecalls by boat. | | |
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CHANNEL ISLANDS HARBOR – After 28-years in the same Oxnard location, Dr. Gary R. Mitnick is relocating his practice -- to his favorite marina.
Mandalay Bay Marina Medical Care is scheduled to open its doors in mid-November, at White Sails Village (4310 Tradewinds Drive, Suite 300) on the harbor’s north side -- and there’s a dock for boat-in patients.
“It’s a new phase for me. I’ve been on the water here for 30 years as a boater: Now, I’ll be an on-the-water doctor,” said Mitnick about the move. Plans for the new office include a 35-foot boat dock, providing easy water access for the many area residents who live on the water.
Mitnick is a board-certified family practitioner, physician and surgeon, and was recently honored by St. John’s Regional Medical Center for 25 years of outstanding service. Medical services at his new location include internal medicine, pediatrics and family practice, as well as minor emergency care -- such as treating lacerations and removing fishhooks.
“They can come by dinghy or electric boat to our office -- and I am looking into purchasing an electric boat so that I can provide house calls for those who live on the water,” Mitnick said.
The newest medical service offered by the center, called “DOCside Care,” is geared to the boating community. In addition to being able to make waterfront house calls, DOCside Care will offer specially equipped emergency kits for long-range cruising boaters. And, as head of emergency medicine for three years at Oxnard Community Hospital, Mitnick knows what is needed in an emergency situation.
“I have cruised all over the world and know that when you are out at sea for several days, you may need to perform emergency services on board until you can reach professional health care. These kits will help the cruiser get the aid they need while at sea,” Mitnick explained.
Materials in the kits might include suture materials, sterile strips, a needle driver and other supplies while the boater is out at sea and out of touch.
Having recently sold his 42-foot Bayliner in anticipation of the move to the new office, Mitnick is philosophical about being boatless for a while, saying, “I traded my boat for a new office. ”
For more information, visit www.marinamedicalcare.com or call (805) 985-5880.
This article first appeared in the October 2008 issue of The Log Newspaper. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
