The newsroom includes access to Council Connect, our twice-monthly newsletter on Hospital Council’s work. Key articles and issues of interest, along with the President’s Message, are included below.
Newsroom
Protecting Our Rural Hospitals
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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.
Campaign Materials Available for CHA-Sponsored Ballot Measure to Strengthen Medi-Cal
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Hospitals are encouraged to join the coalition supporting Proposition (Prop) 35, which would make permanent an existing fee on managed care organizations that enables the state to draw on federal matching funds to improve Medi-Cal. The Hospital Council Board of Directors voted to join the Yes on Prop 35 coalition at its Aug. 21 meeting.
CHA to Host 2024 Disaster Planning Conference
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CHA will host the 2024 Disaster Planning Conference in Pasadena on Sept. 10 and 11 to discuss disaster planning, training, and implementation. Registration is open.
Virtual Training Program to Focus on Leadership Skills Development
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The Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC) is offering an intensive virtual class beginning in September. LEAD Academy is for new health care managers, or those who want to refresh their leadership skills. LEAD events are cosponsored and cohosted by HASC and Hospital Council.
Putting Our Community First as Fire Season Continues
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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.
Regional Medical Center in San Jose to be Acquired by Santa Clara County
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Who Santa Clara County Regional Medical Center What Santa Clara County and Regional Medical Center in San Jose (an HCA Healthcare facility) have reached a tentative agreement for the county to acquire the hospital, with transition targeted for early 2025. Santa Clara County currently operates O’Connor Hospital, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, and St. Louise...
Sonoma County Mental Health Initiative Continues Success as Director Departs
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Who Hospitals and health systems in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, and Lake counties Sonoma County Health Services What For the past year, Sonoma County’s Director of Health Services, Tina Rivera, has been championing a new approach to mental health management in Sonoma County and beyond, similar to the Be Well initiative in Orange County. With strong support...
Upcoming Board Meeting to Highlight Key Issues
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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.
PG&E to Host Wildfire Safety Webinar for Critical Facility Customers
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Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) will host a webinar on Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. (PT) for public safety partners that operate critical facilities to discuss how they are reducing wildfire risk and making their system safer.
Donations Needed as US Faces Emergency Blood Shortage
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Following a precipitous decline in blood and platelet inventory, multiple organizations are asking for hospitals’ and health systems’ help in encouraging community members to donate blood or platelets. Among these organizations is Hospital Council’s Endorsed Business Partner American Red Cross, as well as America’s Blood Centers and the Association for the Advancement of Blood and...
