About Northern Sierra
The Northern Sierra Section is comprised of 21 hospitals, representing 1,400 licensed beds in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity counties.
Model Could Help Plumas District Hospital Reopen Obstetric Services, Patient Transfer, and PSPS Season
Who What In recent years, there has been an alarming and steady increase in rural hospitals closing their obstetric services due to various challenges. For this trend to stop and hopefully reverse, a new alternative must be created, and thanks to a change in state law and some creative thinking, Plumas District Hospital (PDH) has […]
Challenges Continue in Rural North, but There’s Also Good News
Who What Many hospitals serve a sizeable Medi-Cal population, making the upcoming Medi-Cal redeterminations a big topic of conversation. Some counties are well positioned to promptly complete redeterminations, while others have staffing challenges that make timely completion difficult. Hospital Council is working wherever possible with payers and counties to help this county-led process. The lack […]
Local EMS Agency Work is Yielding Good Results
Who What On April 4, Hospital Council convened Nor-Cal EMS and the hospitals within the Local Emergency Services Agency (LEMSA). It is most heartening to see what collaboration yields, especially at a time when hospitals and LEMSAs are facing shared challenges. Discussions are underway on a proposed destination policy and nurse ride-a-longs. These strategies would […]
Anthem Reimbursement Delays Continue in Northern Sierra Section
Who Northern Sierra member hospitals with Anthem Accounts Receivable issues What Hospital Council is working with three hospitals that are experiencing delays — often well past 90 days — in claim reimbursement. These hospitals have worked with Anthem for months with little progress. Anthem leadership has committed to getting involved to resolve the issues, and Hospital […]
SacValley MedShare Helps Coordinate Care
Who SacValley MedShare Health care providers and plans Hospital Council What SacValley MedShare (SVMS) is the largest health information exchange (HIE) in the far north state, serving many hospitals, clinics, counties, ambulances, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, health plans, labs, imaging centers, and independent practice physicians. In June, thanks to continued growth in health […]
Enhanced Power Safety Shutoffs Program Provides Greater Certainty
Who Member hospitals Hospital Council What For many hospitals in the north state, the threat of wildfires and the related power outages are a real threat to their ability to provide patient care and remain solvent. Most of them are served by PG&E and, thanks to improvements in weather modeling, vegetation reduction, grid hardening, and […]
Hospital Leaders Meet with Rep. LaMalfa’s Office
Who Northern Sierra Section hospital leaders Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s office What On April 12, four hospital leaders representing the Northern Sierra Section met with U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s (R, CA-1) Washington, D.C., office to provide local perspectives and impacts for when hospital issues soon present themselves in Congress. The emphasis was on the need for […]
In Wake Of Supervisor Recall, Shasta County HHS Director Resigns
Who Shasta County What While COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations are trending downward, the impacts of the pandemic will be felt for some time. Most notable are workforce challenges, both in the short and long term, and for both clinical and non-clinical positions. Another impact has been the recall of a county supervisor in Shasta County, […]
Workforce Challenges Persist in Northern Sierra
Who Northern Sierra hospitals Hospital Council What In the northern Sierra, attracting and retaining workforce has been an issue for years and has only been made more challenging by the pandemic. When it comes to nursing, getting licensed has been a challenge in and of itself which, of late, is showing significant signs of improvement. […]