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.
Reasons To Celebrate in The Northern Sierra
Who What The Northern Sierra Section is starting the 2023 holiday season off with reasons for gratitude and celebration. Three examples stand out with SVMS, SHARC, and CDPH – Chico. SVMS, headquartered in Chico, has been named a qualified health information organization (QHIO) by the California Health and Human Services Agency, accelerating the advance of […]
Chester Fire Department May Cease Ambulance and Fire Services
Who What The Chester Fire Protection District board is considering ceasing ambulance and fire services in January 2024. There is no set alternative in place, and concerns are being raised regarding the ability of community members to access care. Takeaway/Next Steps If the Chester Fire Department’s ambulance services cease, it will be the second community […]
Partnership HealthPlan Expanding to 10 More Counties
Who What For many years, 14 of the counties in the Northern Sierra Section have had a county-organized health system, Partnership HealthPlan of California (Partnership), as their sole Medi-Cal managed care plan. This structure has proven so popular that the 10 remaining counties in the Northern Sierra Section petitioned the state — through their boards […]
Northern Sierra CEOs Discuss Workplace Violence, 2030 Requirements, and Other Issues
Who What The Hospital Council Northern Sierra Section met on Oct. 17 and heard a great presentation from Judson Howe of Adventist Health on an innovative and effective approach to recruiting and retention. The meeting included a CEO roundtable discussion, during which many voiced concerns about the increased need for security due to patient-on-caregiver violence. […]
Hospital Council Participates in Rural-Focused Events
Who What Hospital Council participated in two recent gatherings, one with ITUP and another with CSRHA. ITUP has new leadership and is seeking input on strategic direction. Hospital Council was asked to provide a perspective on rural hospitals and shared critical workforce and funding challenges. The CSRHA event emphasized that California is a rural state […]
Hospital Council Leads Effort to Improve Care for Patients Experiencing Challenges; Groundbreaking for Hospital in Chester
Who What In rural Northern California, patients with dual diagnoses, challenging medical or behavioral health issues, or those who are experiencing homelessness are not as common as in urban areas. However, they are present and significantly impact hospital staff and resources, with some staying months or even years. Many times, the case’s complexity has never […]
Adventist Health Doesn’t Plan to Reopen Feather River Hospital, but Will Evolve Services in Paradise
Who What For those who lived and worked in Paradise, the wildfire that started Nov. 8, 2018, in northern Butte County forever changed things. The fire killed 86 people, injured 17, and 95% of the structures were lost, including significant damage that required Feather River Hospital to close. After much consideration, Adventist Health has announced it […]
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 […]