Mission and Purpose

The Big Sur Health Center's mission, which they have realized since 1979, is to provide comprehensive healthcare services to all in Big Sur, regardless of ability to pay.

The Big Sur Health Center, founded in 1979 by a determined physician, a nurse and several dedicated volunteers, is an independent, non-profit, community healthcare facility. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit licensed by the State of California, and operate in conformity with all licensing regulations.

Since inception the Big Sur Health Center has been and continues to be the only facility south of Carmel and north of Hearst Castle and Cambria - almost 100 miles of rugged coast. The Health Center provides services to residents, people who work here but live elsewhere on the Monterey Peninsula and beyond, State and Federal employees who work in Big Sur or reside here during emergency periods (road closures, fires, devastating storms) and over 3,500,000 American and foreign annual visitors. Since 1979, more than 25,000 patients have been seen and treated at the Health Center .

The closest alternatives to the Health Center require lengthy travel north to Monterey or south to Cambria . Because of the cost and effort involved, as well as the substantial loss of time, work and wages, a significant number of patients would either go without care or delay seeking treatment for extended periods of time should local treatment not be available.

Most importantly, during the all too frequent emergency road closures and natural disasters, the Big Sur Health Center is the only service available to residents and emergency workers alike.

Services Provided

The Big Sur Health Center provides primary medical and preventive care, emergency care, hospice support, prescription service and minor surgical procedures. The Health Center provides laboratory services, electrocardiograms and specialty lipid counseling as well as coordinating with specialty offices and facilities elsewhere.

To avoid painfully long travel, and in coordination with specialists such as Oncologists, local chemotherapy and other critical services are provided to those with more serious illnesses.

The Big Sur Health Center ensures translation for those less familiar with English. The Health Center also provides community outreach including health education programs and facilitation of access to mental health and specialty care services.

Because of the isolated and extraordinary nature of this community, the Big Sur Health Center is called upon to perform extraordinary tasks and has successfully met this challenge since 1979.

The Health Center Board of Directors consists of 16 volunteers who are all active members of the community. The paid staff includes two part-time MDs (one is the Medical Director), an Administrator/Physician Assistant, a Registered Nurse and a receptionist. Most of the staff is bilingual.

The Health Center's modular facility is located at 46896 Highway One, in Big Sur, on property owned by All Saints Episcopal Church of Carmel, California.

In 2004 the Big Sur Health Center will move into an expanded modular facility on the same site. This will provide a dramatic increase in space, privacy for staff and patients and an expansion of care options. Generous private donations provided the funds for the new building demonstrating solid local support and recognition of the critical need for such a facility.

Location and Hours of Operation

Location 46896 Highway One     Big Sur, CA 93920         Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday*     10:00 AM to 1:00 PM     2:00 Pm to 5:00 PM         * ... Local and National Holidays Observed