Seneca Healthcare District LogoFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Chester, CA – February 4, 2025 – The Lake Almanor Clinic at Seneca Healthcare District has recently discovered an issue with our phone and voicemail system that affected the scheduling of appointments and created frustration with our patients and families. The issue, which resulted in missed or unreturned messages, was brought to our attention by feedback from our community members. 

Upon investigation, we found that our new phone system had initially been set up with several lines and voicemail boxes assigned to staff who no longer work at Seneca.  These old voicemail boxes and lines were still active, which should not have been the case. An extensive number of messages were left in these vacant voicemails and unmonitored lines. We have since worked diligently to call back individuals to confirm that their needs were taken care of. 

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Lake Almanor community for your valuable feedback. Your input prompted a thorough investigation, allowing us to identify and rectify the problem swiftly. This collaborative effort exemplifies how a community and a healthcare district can work together to resolve issues and improve services. 

For those who have been affected by this issue, please contact us at 1-833-227-3743 or email us at info@senecahospital.org. We are committed to working with you to meet your needs and ensure that your healthcare experience is seamless. 

To prevent such issues in the future, we have taken the following measures: 

  • Disconnected the unmonitored lines and removed the vacant voicemails. 
  • Implemented new procedures for our phone system and voicemail, especially during employee transitions. 

 

Statement from the CEO: “We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We want to thank the community for their feedback, which led to our investigation of this issue. This is the perfect example of how feedback through the appropriate channels results in improved services and healthcare for our entire community.” – Shawn McKenzie, CEO 

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue our work to address this matter. Your feedback is crucial in helping us enhance our services and ensure that we continue to be responsive to the needs and expectations of our community. 

Thank you, Lake Almanor community, for your continued support and partnership. Together, we are committed to improving health for all. 

True community. True care. 

For further information, please contact: Lake Almanor Clinic at info@senecahospital.org.