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To Your Health You know the routine. You feel like hell. Go the doctor. Hand over the insurance card. Head for the examination room. Get all of five minutes to state your case because the less time spent on your problems, the more money in the doctor's pocket--at Kaiser Permanente the doctors actually have to punch a clock to show that they haven't spent too much time on your examination. You're sent packing, feeling unsatisfied, burned even by this cavalier attitude that has made health care the kind of service you used to get at a five-and-dime store. But not everyone in the health care is a slacker. The good folks at the Petaluma Health Care District have created the Redwood Health Library (314 Western St., Petaluma; 778-9114), a neat, efficiently organized library that is a medical researcher's dream--and it's open three days a week to the public. Designed for regular people who want as much information as possible about any particular malady or health issue, this unique resource library was established four years ago. The library contains books, medical texts, health newsletters, medical journals, clipping files, audio/video cassettes, computerized national health databases, and a CD-ROM database. Oh, yeah, a helpful staff will dote over your every need. Now that's health care! Here are some other local resources that will help you take your health into your own hands: Sonoma County Adult Children of Alcoholics Anonymous Elim Lutheran Church, Baker and Stanley streets, Petaluma; and First United Methodist Church, 1551 Montgomery Ave., Santa Rosa. 544-2130. Alzheimer's Association Oakmont Gardens, Retirement Community Center, 301 White Oak Drive, Santa Rosa. 573-1210. Alzheimer's Support Burbank Heights Senior Housing Community Center, 777 Bodega Hwy., Sebastopol. 823-9004. Basic Buddhism and Psycho-spiritual Healing Clinic 823-8700. Better Breathers. 527-5864. Diabetes Society 2777 Cleveland Ave., Suite 103, Santa Rosa. 578-0887. Dual Recovery (self-help anonymous group for people facing mental or emotional illness combined with chemical or alcohol addiction), 420 E. Cotati Ave., Cotati. 795-4336. Lovin' Life, Livin' Love (helping people going through the cancer experience), 110 Lynch Creek Way, Petaluma. 775-4771. Lupus Support Group Sutter Women's Health Resource Center, 625 Steele Lane, Santa Rosa. 538-1489. Macular Degeneration Support Group Senior Center, 6800 Hunter Drive, Suite A, Rohnert Park. 585-7502. Mended Hearts (heart health),. Kaiser Hospital, Building LL, Conference Rooms H-1 and H-2, 401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa. 537-0630. Moderate Drinking (ongoing workshop on reducing alcohol consumption and preventing alcohol abuse), Saturdays in Santa Rosa and Petaluma. 539-5465. Parkinson's Support, YMCA, 1111 College Ave., Santa Rosa. 546-8439. Quit Smoking (support and tools to quit smoking for good, sponsored by the American Lung Association of the Redwood Empire), 527-5864. Red Cross (emergency first-aid and adult CPR certification courses, as well as child-care and pet first-aid courses). 465 Tesconi Circle #11, Santa Rosa. 577-7611. Redwood Health Library 314 Western Ave., Petaluma. 778-9114. Relationships and HIV 579-5822. Sexual-Assault Support Group 545-7270; 24-hour hotline, 545-7273. Share and Care (support for caregivers of patients with dementia), Catholic Charities, 2323 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa. 565-4938. Sweet Peas (women-only diabetes group), Diabetes Society, 2777 Cleveland Ave., Suite 101, Santa Rosa. 578-0887. Tayu Meditation Center 829-9579. Transitions (men's discussions on identity and role changes associated with aging). Chanate Hall, 3333 Chanate Road, Santa Rosa. 565-4938. Ventures (support group for senior women dealing with depression), Chanate Hall, 3333 Chanate Road, Santa Rosa. 565-4938. Widows and Widowers (peer counseling groups for newly bereaved seniors), 751 Lombardi Court, Santa Rosa. 545-4551. Women in Transition (support group covers various life changes for seniors). 565-4938. Yoga Studio 155A Kentucky St., Petaluma. 765-1367. Zen Buddhism Sonoma Mountain Zen Center, 6367 Sonoma Mt. Road, Santa Rosa. 545-8105. Napa County Age-Related Self-Help 224-1558. Alopecia Areata Support 256-0577. Arthritis Exercise Group 967-5715. Arthritis Support 1299 Pine St., Napa. 963-1912. Candida-Related Illnesses Support 1299 Pine St., Napa. 963-1912. Chronic Pain Management Support 1524 Jefferson St., Napa. 253-2799. Epilepsy Support 1000 Trancas St., Napa, 800/632-3532. Free Health Assessments 253-9000. Hepatitis C Support 1299 Pine St., Napa. 963-1912. HIV Network 257-5955. Kick-Butt Cancer Support 226-1667. Napa Valley AIDS Project 258-AIDS. Spinal Cord Injury Support 800/528-7704. United Ostomy Association 226-3436. [ Sonoma County | MetroActive Central | Archives ]