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A Full-Circle Moment for One Cardiology Patient

Lynda, who coordinates physician schedules at Alameda Health System (AHS), became a cardiology patient after persistent fatigue and shortness of breath were traced to a leaky heart valve that would require replacement surgery. Wilson was connected with Marina Trilesskaya, MD, division chief of cardiology at Wilma Chan Highland Hospital Campus, whom she had helped onboard years earlier. After successful surgery, Wilson returned to work and now encourages women to listen to their bodies and advocate for their health.

When Good Policy Meets Hospital Reality: What We’re Learning From AB 2975

“The value of an idea lies in the using of it.” – Thomas Edison 

Every year, state lawmakers spend months crafting legislation with the lofty goal of improving life for Californians. When their work is done, hospitals have the task of transforming those ideas into actionable solutions, all while ensuring access to the lifesaving care millions of Californians rely on every day.  

Leadership Beyond the Hospital Walls

Read only the headlines, and health care looks like a story about scarcity. Margins are thinner. Workforce pipelines are strained. Regulatory demands keep expanding. Patients arrive with needs more complex than any single institution was designed to meet. And in a lot of boardrooms, the hard questions about 2027 are arriving faster than the answers. 

As OBBBA Impacts Loom, Hospitals Work Together

Just over a year ago, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), ushering in monumental changes for California’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal. Nearly 400 days since the legislation was signed into law, its impact on hospitals and the communities they serve is only beginning to take shape — and Hospital Council is mobilizing to meet the moment. 

Spinal Surgery with a Personalized Approach

Scoliosis and severe spinal stenosis had left Ailene Voisin in chronic pain and struggling to walk. She was losing hope that she’d ever get her active life back again when UC Davis Health orthopedic surgeon Safdar Khan, MD, recommended an innovative new approach to spinal surgery that could likely eliminate most of her pain. Dr. Khan used patient-specific implants tailored to her anatomy to stabilize her spine and relieve nerve pressure. The personalized approach improved her mobility and quality of life, allowing her to return to traveling and the sports she enjoyed.

Preparation Matters

This month, Californians caught a rare glimpse of the work hospitals do every day to stay ready for the unexpected. From the fire at a Medline warehouse in Tracy, to the security and surge planning taking place for the FIFA World Cup matches in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, the value of preparation and communication has been on full display. For hospital leaders, these moments are a reminder that readiness is never accidental — it is built, funded, and championed long before any crisis arrives. 

All Eyes on November

With last week’s primary election in the rearview mirror, focus now turns to Nov. 3. While the question remains as to who will be California’s next governor, perhaps just as significant for California hospitals will be the outcomes of two key ballot initiatives. With five months to go until Election Day, we are asking all member hospitals to join two campaign coalitions today to help ensure success in November.  

Keeping the Lights On

California’s wildfire season is once again underway, bringing renewed focus to hospital preparedness and operational continuity during public safety power shut-off (PSPS) events.