At our board meeting earlier this month, we heard about the statewide health equity focus that will involve not just HASD&IC but also CHA, the Hospital Association of Southern California, and Hospital Council – Northern & Central California. This important work entails collaboration among the four associations and their member hospitals to ensure care is inclusive and equitable for all. It includes:
The HASD&IC Board of Directors convened on July 6. Board Chair Tom Gammiere, corporate SVP/Regional Chief Executive – South, Scripps Health, officiated. Recognition and thanks were expressed for Robert Smith, MD, who retired from VA San Diego Healthcare on June 30 and served on the HASD&IC Board since 2016.
Access to health care is vital to a healthy society, and to ensure that those in our local communities can see a doctor when necessary, it’s imperative that they have coverage.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: On June 28, the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a $7.36 billion budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, with significant investments in behavioral health, homelessness, equity, racial justice, and climate change. Additionally, the board unanimously declared fentanyl as a public health crisis, which will direct county staff to develop a comprehensive strategy to address this crisis and devote more resources to fentanyl education, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction strategies. Board Chair Nathan Fletcher also indicated the county is expected to receive $100 million from a lawsuit settlement with opioid manufacturers, and funding could be directed toward the effort. From August to October, the county will host workshops to get feedback from the community on how to prioritize settlement dollars, and the board will meet in October to consider a framework. Lastly, the board unanimously approved all recommendations and actions to enhance human trafficking prevention and service coordination efforts to support survivors. With this action, the county also authorized procurement to establish peer support navigation services for adult survivors
ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION: On May 24, the San Diego Association of Governments presented its Initial Interim Report on Alternatives to Incarceration to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Among some of the findings:
This June, as we celebrate Pride Month, it’s a good reminder for everyone about the role that hospitals and health systems play in building inclusive and equitable communities for our LGBTQ+ neighbors.
EMSA AND CDPH WAIVERS: CHA is seeking the extension of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) COVID-19 waivers from June 30 to Sept. 30. With a projected summer wave of COVID-19 threatening to strain an already stressed health care delivery system, these flexibilities are critical to maintaining the current health care capacity in California. Specifically, the waivers at risk are:
Both waivers will need an executive order to be issued by the governor’s office to update the most recent executive order’s provisions that otherwise will expire. CHA is advocating for these executive order provisions, and corresponding CDPH and EMSA waivers, to be renewed as soon as possible. CHA has developed talking points that hospitals may want to use in outreach to state legislators and department officials about the impacts to their communities if these flexibilities are not extended. HASD&IC submitted feedback from members to help with CHA’s advocacy efforts.
Last week’s school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, hits far too close to home for someone like me with three school-age kids. We send our kids to school to learn, be social, and have fun with friends — not to have to potentially confront sheer horror that could await them.
The HASD&IC Board of Directors convened on May 11. Board Chair Tom Gammiere, corporate SVP/Regional Chief Executive – South, Scripps Health, officiated.
RECOGNIZING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS): This week (May 15-21) is the 47th annual National EMS Week, which was established by President Gerald Ford in 1974 to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in our nation’s communities. The week includes theme days, and throughout the week, San Diego County EMS will be driving to hospital sites to hand out goodies to EMS staff.