JoAnne Obata

As the Hospital Council team looks back on everything our hospital members have accomplished this past year, the first thing that comes to mind is the word resilience. Unfortunately, we started the year with the closure of Madera Community Hospital on Jan. 3, which drew attention to the significant financial challenges that hospitals face in California. Before Madera’s closure, many elected officials wrongly believed hospitals were flush with money and too big to fail, but the reality is over half of California’s hospitals have negative margins.

Hospitals are important to the fabric of our communities. They provide a refuge for people during times of need, and it’s important that we recognize the people behind them. Throughout all the unexpected disasters that life throws at us — wildfires, earthquakes, or even a pandemic — health care workers have continued to show up for their patients.

Nov. 8, 2023, marks the five-year anniversary of the Camp Fire in Butte County, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. The fire started when a faulty electrical transmission line ignited. The flames were fanned by high winds and spread quickly. What started as a small blaze forever destroyed a town and not only altered the landscape but the lives of everyone impacted by this disaster.

Mental Illness Awareness Week occurs every year during the first week of October, and according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the purpose is to “raise awareness, fight discrimination, and provide support.” Hospital Council also believes this week emphasizes how important mental health is to a person’s overall health.      

Hospitals across California are confronting inflation, workforce shortages, and other financial challenges. In early 2023, the four associations that represent member hospitals in California committed to focusing on hospital financial stability.