Hospital Council members receive Council Connect,
our electronic newsletter that shares everything we’re
working on for you.
In articles as diverse as our membership — from rural
to urban, and Sierra to sea — we spotlight the
individuals and institutions who are moving the ball forward,
while also sharing news on new ideas and innovative approaches
from our endorsed business partners.
Earlier this month, the California Emergency Medical Services
Authority (EMSA), in partnership with the California Department
of Public Health (CDPH), released a far-reaching report that aims
to revamp disaster preparedness and response across the state.
Titled the California Patient Movement Plan, it summarizes
state and federal patient movement and tracking capabilities and
includes recommendations to:
Streamline communication at all levels
Enhance patient movement coordination functions across
operational areas, regions, and statewide
Develop tools to improve efficiency, such as standardized
patient movement resource request forms and the California
Unified Patient Tracking System
Last week, the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications
Committee conducted an oversight hearing to address the recent
spate of public safety power shutoff (PSPS) events, during which
utilities intentionally cut power to certain areas due to a
heightened risk of weather-related wildfires.
The hearing included an overview from the Legislative Analyst’s
Office (LAO), which covered the history of PSPS authority and
guidance, the state’s role in PSPS events, steps the
utilities must take to mitigate impacts on vulnerable
populations, and support for PSPS events in the 2019-20 budget.
Behavioral health care is one of the most pressing issues for
California and continues to be discussed across the state.
Hospital Council is participating in many of these conversations,
representing the hospital perspective. Highlights of the work
being done across Hospital Council’s regions include:
The Hospital Council — Northern & Central California held its
third annual Healthcare Administrative Professional’s Conference
on Oct. 25 in Lafayette, Calif. This year 102 people attended the
conference, its largest audience to date.
Jeanne McAuliffe, Hospital Council executive coordinator, opened
the conference, followed by Bryan Bucklew, Hospital Council
President & CEO, who spoke about why the executive assistant role
is so critical to the California Hospital Association and the
Regional Associations.
California Assemblymember Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield) urged
hospital leaders to become involved with their state legislators,
telling attendees at the annual fall California Hospital
Association Political Action Committee (CHPAC) Presidents Club
event that elected officials need their expertise and input.
Fong was the featured guest at the event, which was held Nov. 5
in Visalia.
At the Hospital Quality Institute’s (HQI) annual conference,
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC) was honored with the
2019 C. Duane Dauner Award, which recognizes outstanding
achievement in patient safety, quality improvement, and patient
experience. SCVMC won for developing a program to safely
discharge certain individuals experiencing homelessness.
