The California Hospital Association (CHA) and the Hospital
Council – Northern & Central California are working together to
support our member hospitals and health systems in their efforts
to prepare and care for patients exposed to and diagnosed with
coronavirus in our communities. Key to this work is a set of
resources and continually updated information – all in one place
– at Coronavirus
Response.
Caregivers at CA’s hospitals are dedicated to helping
meet the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness.
This compassionate care is highlighted
in — ”Homeless Guardians,”
a special project of the California Hospital
Association and Our Health California.
Two of the project’s profiles look at efforts in San Francisco
and Sacramento.
New this year, the California Hospital Association has made the
vast majority of its education and publication
resources free to members. As a Hospital Council member, you
are also a member of CHA and have access to these materials,
which include webinars, one-day programs, and electronic
publications.
With coronavirus concerns at an all-time high, many seniors
aren’t comfortable going into grocery stores and food
distribution is a way to ensure this vulnerable population has
food.
Dignity Health Connected Living has been Shasta County’s
designated food banks for decades and they’ve stepped up their
helping hand in extending their eligibility on who can take part
in their food distribution.
As the number of COVID-19 cases soars in the United States
and more than 1,600 in California as of Sunday
afternoon, hospitals in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties are
preparing for what experts refer to as a “surge” of patients
seeking treatment.
Hospitals in the region are taking increasingly more aggressive
measures to protect patients. On Sunday, for instance, Community
Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula adopted a no-visitors
policy. (voicesofmontereybay.org)
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted to approve $20
million in funding to keep Daly City’s Seton Medical Center open
amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The board voted 4-1 Tuesday, to allocate $5 million annually over
the next four years to keep the hospital open and avoid creating
a health care desert. Verity Health Systems, the hospital’s
owner, filed for bankruptcy in 2018 and had been planning to
shutter the hospital as soon as this week.
Patti Taylor says that nursing at 3,000 feet isn’t for the faint
of heart.
When Taylor, a critical care transport nurse, zips up her flight
suit, she is prepared for anything aboard Air George, Valley
Children’s Hospital’s shiny orange and blue EC-135 helicopter.
(fresnobee.com)
On March 6, Hospital Council convened a call with health
officers and health systems in Sacramento and Placer counties to
address the community’s response to COVID-19. For more
information, contact Brian Jensen at bjensen@hospitalcouncil.org.
On March 5, Hospital Council convened Alameda and
Contra Costa County community benefit leaders to plan for a
roll-out of the community health needs assessment and hospital
community benefit plans. Meetings with county supervisors
will take place in early summer; Hospital Council will release a
one-page summary in mid-summer. For more information, contact
Rebecca Rozen at rrozen@hospitalcouncil.org.
On March 4, Hospital Council’s Santa Clara Section received
an update from Santa Clara County Deputy Health Officer George
Han, MD, on the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation. Attendees
also heard from Barbara Glaser, senior legislative advocate at
the California Hospital Association, on 2020 legislative
priorities and the state budget. For more information, contact Jo
Coffaro at jcoffaro@hospitalcouncil.org.
On March 3, Hospital Council convened Contra Costa County
emergency department leaders for a demonstration on reviewing,
downloading, and updating their data in the county’s ambulance
patient offload time online dashboard (FirstWatch). Accuracy is
paramount, as the Contra Costa EMS Agency is submitting these
data to the state and ambulance providers have previously used
these data to argue for penalizing hospitals with excessive wait
times. For more information, contact
Rebecca Rozen at rrozen@hospitalcouncil.org.
On Feb. 25, Hospital Council met with newly elected San
Francisco Board Supervisor Dean Preston, who is highly focused on
housing and affordability issues. For more information, contact
Michon Coleman at mcoleman@hospitalcouncil.org.
On Feb. 24, the San Francisco Section met to hear from San
Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott, who expressed a desire for
continued partnership with hospitals as the city works to address
homelessness and mental health issues. The section also heard
from San Francisco Health Officer Tomas Aragon, MD, who provided
an update on the city’s response to COVID-19. For more
information, contact Michon Coleman at mcoleman@hospitalcouncil.org.
Rebecca Rozen is completing a round of introductory
meetings with new district directors for state and federal
legislators representing the East Bay. To date, meetings have
been held with new district directors, as well as staff with
state Senator Nancy Skinner
(D-Berkeley), Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Alameda)
and Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA 15th District). For more
information, contact Rebecca Rozen at rrozen@hospitalcouncil.org.
The Hospital Council – Northern and Central California is the
unified voice of our members, acting as a catalyst to empower
hospitals to act together on issues affecting patient care and
the health status of communities. We are dedicated to advocating
for our member hospitals at the
local and regional level and in support of California
Hospital Association (CHA) at the State and Federal level.
We strive to be an invaluable partner, convening groups across
multiple sectors to address health and quality of life challenges
within our communities.
