CEO Messages

Critical Deadline Approaches on Ambulance Patient Offload Times

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On Sept. 1, hospitals must submit an ambulance patient offload time (APOT) reduction protocol under Assembly Bill 40. This bill requires hospitals to include mechanisms that will improve internal operations and reduce APOT. The standard is 30 minutes, 90% of the time for general acute care hospitals with emergency departments.  

Protecting Hospitals During Fire Season

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The Fourth of July weekend marks a time of celebration in the lives of Americans and is often spent enjoying time with loved ones. July also brings higher temperatures, which increases the risk of fire. Although the precise causes are yet to be determined, the Hospital Council region experienced multiple fires and public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) during the holiday weekend.  

Regional Behavioral Health Event Emphasizes Collaboration Across Sectors

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A behavioral health crisis has long existed in California. Almost one quarter of adults with a mental illness are unable to receive the treatment they need — a number that has not improved since 2011. To discuss this crisis, the Sonoma County Department of Health Services hosted the Regional Behavioral Health Collaborative at the end of May in Santa Rosa. The event drew attendees from various community sectors in and outside of Sonoma County and was held in collaboration with Hospital Council and the Master of Health Care Delivery Science program at Dartmouth College.  

Embracing Individuality and Health Care Access During LGBTQ+ Pride Month

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June marks Pride Month, a time to honor the LGBTQ+ community and embrace individuality. Although much work has been done in health care to build more inclusive environments, the LGBTQ+ community experiences worse health outcomes than heterosexual individuals. Stigmatization, hate, violence, and discrimination are still significant barriers to the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals.  

Honoring Mental Health Awareness Month

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recognizes as a time “to increase awareness about the vital role mental health plays in our overall health and well-being and provide resources and information to support individuals and communities who may need mental health support.”  

Highlighting the Importance of Nurses and Health Care Workers

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This week, hospitals throughout our region, California, and the country are celebrating National Nurses Week, which started on May 6 and ends on May 12 to coincide with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, a founder of modern nursing. The American Nurses Association states that this year’s theme is “Nurses Make the Difference,” which “honors the incredible nurses who embody the spirit of compassion and care in every health care setting.”  

Volunteers are the Backbone of Hospitals

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From the Central Valley to Crescent City, thousands of women and men choose every day to give their time to their neighbors, friends, and family who need hospital care. 

Engagement, Ambulance Patient Offload Times, OneTeam Priorities Highlight Board Meeting

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Hospital Council held our first in-person board meeting of the year at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel in Sacramento on April 8-9. While we focused on critical issues facing Hospital Council members, such as financial challenges for hospitals and key regional projects, we started our meeting with a presentation and roundtable discussion with Stephen “Shed” Shedletzky on the principles in his book Speak-Up Culture. The underlying principle discussed was that organizations with speak-up cultures are safer, more innovative, more engaged, and better performing than their peers. That discussion set the tone for our meeting to create a safe, speak-up environment for our member hospitals and at our regular board meetings where significant issues are being discussed. 

Honoring Women’s History Month by Advancing Maternity Care 

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This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.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 […]

Rural Health Care Symposium Highlights Hospital Financial Instability

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Millions of Californians are at risk of losing access to critical health care services as rural hospitals struggle financially. When a rural hospital closes, it is often the sole source of care for miles and miles so Californians living in these communities must travel farther for care. Those in poor health, seniors, and people experiencing poverty suffer the most.