CEO Messages

The Hospital Council Board of Directors held its first in-person meeting of the year last week, setting the stage for the coming months of critically important advocacy efforts.  

From county to county and coast to coast, hospital leaders know one thing to be true: Hospitals are the backbone of their communities.

At its core, health care is about people.

Hidden potential is everywhere — but leaders must create the conditions for it to emerge. 

When rural and critical access hospital leaders gather at this year’s Rural Health Care Symposium, which will be hosted by the California Hospital Association (CHA) on March 23-24 in Sacramento, the question top of mind for many will be: How do we best serve our patients and communities while we’re in survival mode with all of the existential pressures facing our hospitals? 

Last week, the Hospital Council Board of Directors held its first meeting of the year, setting a strong tone around priorities, advocacy, and collaboration in what is shaping up to be a challenging environment for hospitals at all levels of government. 

Next week, the Hospital Council Board of Directors will meet for the first time in 2026, kicking off what promises to be a challenging and consequential year for hospitals across California.  

Hospitals need help. And last week, hospital leaders made sure Washington, D.C., heard that message loud and clear. 

“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” – David Bowie