Section Update

City of Berkeley Fair Workweek Ordinance Becomes Effective Jan. 12 

Who

Hospitals with health care facilities located in the city of Berkeley   

What

The city of Berkeley’s Fair Workweek Ordinance goes into effect on Jan. 12. Passed in 2022, the ordinance requires employers in Berkeley to adhere to certain scheduling and notification requirements for shifts, provide predictability pay to all employees, and offer work to existing employees first.  

Northern Sierra’s New Year Starts with Reflections on Behavioral Health Care  

Who

Behavioral health care, hospital, and county leadership from across California  

What

With its time for reflection and goal setting, CHA’s annual Behavioral Health Care Symposium on Dec. 12-13 was an ideal prelude to the new year. Representatives from 75 hospitals and 20 counties attended, including many from the Northern Sierra. It is clear from many presentations that the behavioral health landscape in California is entirely different than it was five years ago. There is a heightened sense of urgency among stakeholders, significant legislative action, and funding allocated by the state to address behavioral health care needs through counties and state projects. In the words of one speaker, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, “We have come very far and have very far to go.” 

East Bay Counties Delay Implementation of SB 43 To January 2026  

Who

Board of Supervisors in East Bay counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano)   

What

Senate Bill (SB) 43, which was signed into law in October, expands the definition of the term “gravely disabled” for the involuntary detention, treatment, or conservatorship of individuals with behavioral health conditions to include those living with severe substance use disorders.

Sonoma County Welcomes Two New Hospital and Regional CEOs

Who

Hospitals with health care facilities located in the city of Berkeley   

What

The city of Berkeley’s Fair Workweek Ordinance goes into effect on Jan. 12. Passed in 2022, the ordinance requires employers in Berkeley to adhere to certain scheduling and notification requirements for shifts, provide predictability pay to all employees, and offer work to existing employees first.  

Delayed Implementation of SB 43 in the South Bay

Who

What

In early October, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 43, which expands the definition of “gravely disabled” in the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act to include substance abuse. The legislation gave counties an option to delay implementation until January 2026.  

Contra Costa County Meeting Discusses Ambulance Patient Offload Times  

Who What Hospital Council convened hospital leaders, Contra Costa EMS, and Contra Costa County Fire Protection District for our quarterly meeting on ambulance patient offload times (APOT).     Sutter Delta Medical Center and Contra Costa Regional Medical Center shared recent operational changes they made to achieve a reduction in their APOT by 30 minutes, for […]

Reasons To Celebrate in The Northern Sierra

Who What The Northern Sierra Section is starting the 2023 holiday season off with reasons for gratitude and celebration. Three examples stand out with SVMS, SHARC, and CDPH – Chico. SVMS, headquartered in Chico, has been named a qualified health information organization (QHIO) by the California Health and Human Services Agency, accelerating the advance of […]

Sacramento County Board Hearing Discusses Ambulance Patient Offload Times

Who What On Nov. 7, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors held a 90-minute informational hearing on ambulance patient offload times (APOT) and EMS innovation. The hearing revealed that the Sacramento area has some of the highest average offload times statewide, but APOT is improving. Attendees included other fire chiefs, Sacramento Area Firefighters Local 522 […]

Chester Fire Department May Cease Ambulance and Fire Services

Who What The Chester Fire Protection District board is considering ceasing ambulance and fire services in January 2024. There is no set alternative in place, and concerns are being raised regarding the ability of community members to access care. Takeaway/Next Steps If the Chester Fire Department’s ambulance services cease, it will be the second community […]

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit Concludes In San Francisco

Who What The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit concluded on Nov. 17 after President Biden led a week of meetings and galas. There were 21 heads of economy in attendance, including President Xi Jinping of China.      San Francisco’s hospitals have been intimately engaged in countywide planning for potential mass casualty incident events and mitigation of […]