On Nov. 13, the Fresno/Madera & Tulare/Kings 5150 Workgroup held its final meeting of 2020. Deryk Van Brunt gave a presentation on CredibleMind, a website focused on population-based mental health. This website consists of 80% self-help options on over 200 topics and 20% connection to local resources. Deryk discussed how counties are easily able to use Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Stimulus (CARES) Act funding to enter into contract with CredibleMind. Representatives from the Department of Behavioral Health in Fresno and Tulare County gave updates, including the monitoring of access and utilization rates and the desire to provide more local capacity. A common concern among hospitals was the uptick of minors on 5150 holds throughout September and October.
On Nov. 12, RVP David Bacci attended the Kern County Emergency Medical Care Advisory Board meeting. The meeting largely focused on the expected COVID-19 surge this winter. The group also discussed the formation of an Ambulance Patient Offload Time (APOT) task force to seek ways to reduce APOT. The group will consist of ambulance providers, hospital CEOs, and the Hospital Council.
Also on Nov. 12, RVP David Bacci and CHA’s state legislative team met with Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) and leaders from Madera Community Hospital, Community Medical Centers, and Kaweah Delta Healthcare District. The meeting focused on the impacts of COVID-19 on hospital finances and workforce. The coming seismic mandate, and the ways that the pandemic inhibits a hospital’s ability to comply were also discussed. The assemblymember voiced his concern and support for the hospitals and reiterated his commitment to trying to help remedy these issues in the coming legislative year.