Drew Roth

Shining the Spotlight on Health Equity

While COVID-19 may have brought to light many health care inequities, they are nothing new. Disparate health outcomes for minorities, individuals experiencing homelessness, LGBTQ+, and other segments of California’s population have been documented for decades and reflect longstanding structural and systemic inequities that are rooted in racism and discrimination. Today, the disparities have risen to the level of a public health crisis in California, and your hospitals are on the front lines of addressing these inequities.

Recent Heatwave May Have Subsided but Work on Energy-Related Issues Continues  

From fires and floods to earthquakes — and now record-setting high temperatures — your hospitals have seen it all. The recent heatwave posed unique challenges to the state’s energy grid, and although hospitals were specifically exempted from any potential rotating outages, Hospital Council truly thanks you for conserving power when possible while ensuring patient safety was never compromised.  

On-Demand Recording Offers PSPS Resources and Medical Baseline Program Information

During times of extreme weather, California’s Investor Owned Utility (IOU) power companies recommend residents have an emergency preparedness plan in place in the event power must be shut off for safety reasons. The Medical Baseline Allowance Programs enable patients who depend on power for certain conditions to lower energy rates and, most importantly, receive extra […]

Hospital Input Needed for Workforce Survey

As hospitals face critical employee shortages, workforce data are essential to providing insight on questions regarding the supply, demand, and distribution of health professionals. Each quarter, member hospitals are invited to participate in the Hospital Association of Southern California’s (HASC) Health Care Workforce Survey, which captures data on turnover, new hires, and vacancies for all positions, […]

Hospital Council to Hold Webinar on Active Threat Prevention and Response

To address the growing violence directed at hospital employees, Hospital Council is holding an Active Threat Prevention and Response webinar on Aug. 23 from 1 to 2 p.m. (PT). This webinar is designed specifically for health care workers, including medical and professional support staff, who may encounter potentially dangerous individuals. 

Workforce Challenges Need to Be a Top Priority for Our State and Federal Officials

I’m excited that thousands of athletes ages 7 to 18 — my cousin’s daughter included — are gathering this week in Sacramento for the 2022 USA Track & Field (USATF) National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships. USATF’s mission is to “drive competitive excellence and popular engagement … in a safe environment for all.” This mission statement reminded me in a really inspirational way of the work hospitals have always done in their communities, and the particular challenges they face today.