Newsroom

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.

Alameda County Considers Specialty Care Diversion Policy

Who

  • Alameda County Emergency Medical Services Agency (ALCO EMS) 
  • Alameda County hospitals and their emergency department (ED) leaders 
  • Hospital Council
  • What

    ALCO EMS is considering a new specialty care diversion policy modeled on existing policies in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Under such a policy, ALCO EMS could suspend a hospital’s ST-elevation myocardial infarction or stroke designation when the hospital is experiencing prolonged ambulance patient offload times (APOTs).  

    Providence Gifts Crucial Dollars to Behavioral Health Triage Project in Arcata

    Who

  • Providence St. Joseph Hospital  
  • Mad River Community Hospital 
  • California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt 
  • Humboldt County Behavioral Health  
  • Health care partners across Humboldt County 
  • What

    Hospital and health care leaders recently gathered to celebrate a landmark $2 million donation from Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka to support the development of a new behavioral health triage center on the Mad River Community Hospital campus in Arcata. 

    Hospital Council Board Advances Key Policy and Preparedness Priorities

    It is an understatement to say we are experiencing uncertain times for the health care field, hospitals, and the patients we serve — and in particular, the threat of federal and state Medicaid funding cuts and the impact they could have. That’s why the Hospital Council Board of Directors meeting, which took place on April 1 in Sacramento, was an opportunity to help strengthen our collective response and build essential relationships among hospital leaders. Mutual support and communication are needed more than ever.  

    Solano County Establishes SB 43 Implementation Workgroup

    Who

  • Solano County hospitals 
  • Solano County Behavioral Health, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and Public Guardian 
  • Partnership Health Plan 
  • Community stakeholders representing law enforcement, courts, mobile crisis services, and behavioral health programs
  • What

    Senate Bill (SB) 43, which was signed into law in 2023, expands the definition of “gravely disabled” for the involuntary detention, treatment, or conservatorship of individuals with behavioral health conditions to include those living with severe substance use disorders. Solano County will implement the new law on Jan. 1, 2026, and has established an SB 43 workgroup that is meeting bimonthly. Solano County hospitals and Hospital Council participate in this meeting along with other stakeholders. 

    Hospitals Must Be Allies to Each Other

    Last week, Council Thoughts focused on the need for hospitals to build key allies across community, political, and economic sectors. This week, we turn to the other half of the picture: Hospitals must also look inward for partnership in a rapidly changing health care environment. More than ever, we must be one another’s allies.  

    San Francisco to Open New Police-Friendly Stabilization Center

    Who

  • San Francisco Mayor’s Office 
  • San Francisco Department of Public Health,  
  • San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing
  • What

    In April, San Francisco will open a 24/7 police-friendly stabilization center at 822 Geary Street, where police officers can drop off people with urgent mental health and substance abuse needs so they can receive medical care. The goal is to keep people out of jails and emergency departments (EDs) and the city’s limited law enforcement resources on the street. With powers granted by the recently passed Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance, the city is able to expedite the center’s opening. 

    CEO Message

    Read up-to-date messages from Hospital Council's CEO