Drew Roth

Addressing Emergency Department Challenges in Northern Sierra

Who What Hospital Council efforts to sustain rural ambulance services continue. The newly formed coalition of state associations, LEMSAs, ambulance providers, county supervisors, and other entities will move next to do an analysis. While all members of the coalition are aware of the rural ambulance service crisis and its potential to worsen, data and patient […]

Addressing Inmate Emergency Department Transport Protocols

Who What At a meeting convened by Hospital Council on March 20, SFD shared concerns about communication and protocols on when the county jail uses emergency medical services (EMS) providers to transport inmates to community hospitals. In 2023, SFD transported over 660 inmates to hospitals, though hospital staff determined many did not need hospital-level care. […]

HCAI Reminds Hospitals to Register with New Online Portal

Last week, the California Hospital Association (CHA) shared that a significant number of hospitals missed a Jan. 1 registration deadline for the Department of Health Care Access and Information’s new online charity care portal. Hospitals that have not registered may be subject to penalties of up to $500 per day. Hospitals should confirm that they […]

North Bay Leaders Discuss Workforce and Access

Who What The North Bay Section gathered in person on March 13 to hear an overview of Hospital Council and CHA’s 2024 priorities and discuss health care workforce development. Highlights include:   Takeaway/Next Steps Participants noted their appreciation for having a space where they can speak candidly with colleagues and learn from one another’s experience. Hospital […]

Central Valley CEOs Meet with Sen. Anna Caballero 

Who What On March 18, Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced) met with hospital CEOs in the Central Valley portions of her district. The CEOs thanked the senator for her authorship of the California Hospital Association’s (CHA) current seismic legislation. Over the course of the productive conversation, CEOs also shared their priorities and concerns, chief among them […]

Honoring Women’s History Month by Advancing Maternity Care 

Throughout California, hospital labor and delivery units are closing, casualties of a perfect storm of record-low birth rates, health care workforce shortages, and low Medi-Cal reimbursement. Closing maternity services is never an easy decision, and yet it’s one more and more hospital leaders are having to make.   Twelve California counties have no hospital labor and […]

Coalition Forms to Address Rural Ambulance Services

Who What A new coalition of legislators, emergency medical professionals, county representatives, and Hospital Council staff met to discuss the prevention of more closures and reduction of rural ambulance services in California. Ambulance providers closing or reducing services has become commonplace in rural areas, with response times in some areas ranging from many hours to […]

San Francisco Health Commission Hearing Discusses Dignity Health Hospital Acquisitions

Who What Recently, the San Francisco Health Commission concluded the second of two Proposition Q (Community Health Care Planning Ordinance) hearings related to UCSF Health’s acquisition of Dignity Health’s Saint Francis Memorial Hospital and Saint Mary’s Medical Center. These mandatory hearings provide oversight and apply to sales, acquisitions, mergers, and other transactions that may impact […]