Who
- Redwood Coast section CEOs and hospital leaders
- Humboldt County behavioral health leadership
What
On Nov. 6, the Redwood Coast section convened to discuss several key topics:
- CHA’s 2024 Policy Summary: An overview of the California Hospital Association’s (CHA) policy initiatives for the upcoming year
- Hospitals’ Challenges and Goals for 2025: A discussion on the obstacles hospitals face and their objectives for the coming year
- Collaboration with Humboldt County Behavioral Health Leadership: A productive conversation focused on upcoming mandates, such as Senate Bill 43, emphasizing the need for collaboration between hospitals and the county
In addition, attendees highlighted a significant issue: the scarcity of suitable clinic spaces in Humboldt County. Hospitals noted that local residency programs yield a net annual increase of six to seven family medicine residents, but they struggle to secure office space for these new physicians. Local landlords do not offer tenant improvements, rendering available spaces unsuitable for patient care and increasing costs by approximately 5% above market rates. Assessing the repurposing of unused spaces, such as their old hospital campus, into clinic facilities alone incurs costs nearing $1 million. Questions continue about how to address this issue locally and through policy. Discussions with regional leadership from Partnership HealthPlan, who are also engaged in maintaining appropriate spaces for patient care, will continue.
The group also addressed:
- A letter of support for Humboldt County’s efforts to rebuild the aging Sempervirens psychiatric health facility (PHF)
- Progress toward Mad River’s Behavioral Health Triage building
- A succession plan to ensure Waterfront Recovery Services maintains ongoing operations amid the planned retirement of Ruby Bayan, MD
Takeaway/Next Steps
- Policy Advocacy: CHA to consider policy initiatives addressing the real estate challenges for clinics in Humboldt County
- Collaboration: Hospital Council to facilitate connections between Providence leadership and Partnership HealthPlan to explore solutions for clinic space issues
- Support Initiatives: Continue supporting Humboldt County’s efforts to rebuild the Sempervirens PHF and monitor progress on Mad River’s Behavioral Health Triage building
- Succession Planning: Assist, as needed, Waterfront Recovery Services in developing a succession plan to ensure continuity of operations amid leadership transitions
Contact
RVP Meghan Hardin at mhardin@hospitalcouncil.org