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.
On Dec. 6, Hospital Council hosted a meeting for chief
nursing officers and other nurse leaders from the northern part
of the state. Presenters included:
Seth Karnes, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
director of TEAM/ED-Safe, on workplace violence
BJ Bartleson, California Hospital Association (CHA) vice
president, nursing and clinical services, on CDPH leadership
changes and legislation that will take effect in 2020
Sheree Lowe, CHA vice president, behavioral health, on
acute psychiatric bed loss and other behavioral health care
needs
Robert Imhoff, Hospital Quality Institute (HQI)
President, on a health care worker support program aimed at
finding joy and meaning in the workplace
On Dec. 5, the Kern Emergency Medical
Services Collaborative held a meeting to discuss a local shortage
of NARCAN and increasing overdose events, as well as a recent
two-day regional preparedness exercise. For more information,
contact David Bacci (dbacci@hospitalcouncil.org).
On Dec. 3, the California State Association
of Counties held its annual meeting. California Department of
Health & Human Services Secretary Michelle Baass presented on a
youth foster initiative. Michelle Herrera, executive director of
the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, spoke to the
realities of behavioral health care across the state, including
revenue sources and challenges such as workforce shortages. For
more information, contact Brian Jensen (bjensen@hospitalcouncil.org)
On Dec. 3, Hospital Council convened a call
for nursing executives from the Central Valley to hear from CHA
and HQI staff on important legislation that will take effect in
2020, the new Hospital Quality Improvement Platform, the Hospital
Association of Southern California’s LEAD Academy, and other
educational opportunities. For more information, contact David
Bacci (dbacci@hospitalcouncil.org).
On Dec. 2, Hospital Council participated in
a panel presentation, hosted by the Fresno Unified School
District, that shared with the Hewlett Foundation collaborative
efforts for career technical education. For more information,
contact David Bacci (dbacci@hospitalcouncil.org).
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has informed Hospital Council
that it does not anticipate holding public safety power shutoff
(PSPS) events in the winter months. PG&E will continue to
monitor weather conditions, anticipating that PSPS events may
once again be necessary closer to the spring/summer months. In
the interim, Hospital Council will continue to work with PG&E
to resolve issues hospitals raised in the recent spate of PSPS
events, to mitigate unexpected consequences from any future
events.
The national debate surrounding federal immigration policies
provides an important opportunity for California hospitals to
reinforce the bond they have with local communities. All
Californians should know that, regardless of their immigration
status, they should feel safe seeking care. To help hospitals
spread that message in their communities, the California Hospital
Association has developed a toolkit of materials, including
sample:
Yesterday, the California Hospital Association issued an Advocacy Alert calling upon hospital leaders to
reach out to their members of Congress and ask them to urge their
leadership to oppose a benchmark rate as a way of addressing
surprise medical billing. It is critical that hospital leaders
reach out to their senators and representatives to remind them:
Hospitals support protecting patients from out-of-network
surprise emergency bills.
Benchmark rates will cause unnecessary, massive disruption of
the private health care markets.
Benchmark rates do not provide financial protections for
patients.
More details, including contact information for your
representatives, is available in the alert.
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.
