CEO Messages

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This fire season — especially last month — has been exceptionally challenging for our hospitals and the communities they support. From July 2023 to July 2024, Cal Fire’s number of reported fires spanning more than 20 acres increased from 38 to 174. In many Hospital Council sections, particularly in rural areas impacted by previous fires, the numbers have been even more dramatic as fires continue to grow. The Park Fire alone has spread to more than 429,000 acres, affecting Butte, Tehama, Shasta, and Plumas counties. Combined with other fires in the Hospital Council region — such as the Borel Fire, the Blue Fire, and the Crozier Fire — the number of acres affected in a short time frame is inconceivable. 

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The California Legislature is back in Sacramento working to wrap up the 2024 session by the end of August. Lawmakers are considering several bills of significance to hospitals, including ones related to 2030 seismic requirements and financial sustainability for rural hospitals. In addition to state legislative items, several local ballot initiatives and issues impact Hospital Council members. These will be discussed at the Hospital Council Board of Directors meeting next week. 

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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.  

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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.  

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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.”  

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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.