National Rural Health Day: A Chance to Honor Our Rural Hospitals
One of Hospital Council’s priority issues at the beginning of this year remains a priority as 2024 draws to a close: rural health. The third Thursday of November (Nov. 21) marks National Rural Health Day, which is all about celebrating and highlighting the efforts of rural hospitals and addressing rural health care needs. This observance reminds us how vital rural health is for all of California, not just rural areas.
Workforce Issues Are Impacting Rural Hospitals
Hospitals in California are facing multiple challenges that impact patients’ ability to access quality care. One of the most significant is a shortage of health care workers, with 22% of Californians living in areas without enough primary care providers. Shortages are particularly prevalent in rural areas, where patients struggle to access care because there aren’t enough nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and other health care workers to keep up with demand.
Protecting Our Rural Hospitals
Hospital Council works to support the advocacy agenda of the California Hospital Association (CHA), and one of the top advocacy priorities for both our organizations is rural health care. About 2 million people live in and visit California’s rural communities, and the lifesaving and life-changing hospital care they rely on is at risk of being lost due to financial instability. California has roughly five dozen rural and critical access hospitals (CAHs), but many of these hospitals are on the financial brink, reducing services just to stay open or facing the possibility of closure.
Healthcare Professional Shortage Area Designations Reviewed
Who Department of Health and Human Services Hospital Council What A Healthcare Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation is critical for many recruitment efforts in hospitals and clinics, as the designation brings with it access to some state and federal programs offering tuition reimbursement, grants, visa waivers, and more. Some HPSA designations are automatic and tied […]
2023 PG&E Community Wildfire Safety Program: Information for Hospitals
The Healthcare Energy Fitness Initiative (HEFI) is a comprehensive energy efficiency solution designed to support PG&E health care customers save money by optimizing their energy performance. This unique program provides no-cost expert technical services, end-to-end project support, and lucrative financial incentives to qualifying customers.
Register for this webinar and learn how a team of experienced energy experts and highly qualified Delivery Partners, along with your PG&E Account Manager, will help projects get identified, approved, funded, and completed so you can focus on delivering patient care.