Hospitals Are Key to Saving Lives in Fight Against Breast Cancer
It’s October and we are observing Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While progress has been made, the month continues to serve as a powerful reminder of this disease’s prevalence.
President’s Message
Hospital Volunteers Are the Human Connection to Healing
Early in my career I was a hospital volunteer. As a pre-med student at the University of Arizona, I volunteered for hundreds of hours in the emergency department and hospice unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tucson, Ariz. It was an extraordinary experience that opened my eyes to the compassion and caring that volunteers bring to hospitals. I also saw firsthand the challenges that clinicians face every day. My time as a volunteer enhanced my appreciation of the health care system at a key point early in my career. I was inspired to continue helping people.
Hospitals Are Doing the Work to Reduce Ambulance Patient Offload Time
Emergency departments (EDs) serve their communities’ most urgent health care needs. They are often the first place patients — including those with behavioral health challenges or substance use disorders, as well as people experiencing homelessness — go to access health care.
Hospitals Play an Important Role in Helping the Hungry
Imagine being hungry and unable to afford food, or having to choose between buying groceries for your family or paying for medication to treat a chronic condition. Or perhaps having to decide between buying healthy fruits and vegetables or cheap processed foods for your kids. These are daily dilemmas for millions of people across California, including in San Diego and Imperial counties.
Take the 2025 CHNA Survey and Help Shape the Future of Community Health
Hospitals are part of the fabric of the community, uniquely positioned to support residents’ health and social needs. To do this effectively, they must have a comprehensive understanding of the health challenges and resources needed in San Diego. That is why the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is such an essential tool — and with your help, we can ensure that our community partners and the communities we serve have the opportunity to share their perspectives.
San Diego’s Trauma System: Saving Lives for 40 Years
Sometimes a major success can fly under the radar. That’s why it’s important to recognize the 40th anniversary of the San Diego County Trauma System. On Aug. 1, 1984, the first trauma patient arrived at a trauma center. Since then, the system has resulted in reduced mortality and morbidity rates from traumatic injuries while becoming an example for trauma care systems around the world. The numbers tell the story:
Ambulance Patient Offload Time: A Critical Deadline is Just the Beginning
A major deadline looms for hospitals and our partners. On Sept. 1, hospitals are required to submit their Ambulance Patient Offload Time (APOT) reduction protocol under Assembly Bill (AB) 40. The standard is 30 minutes, 90% of the time for general, acute care hospitals with emergency departments (EDs).
A Life and Career Shaped by Service
Eric McDonald, MD, is retiring this Friday from San Diego County. He will be missed. Dr. McDonald’s career is a testament to compassionate leadership and a sincere commitment to public health.
Honoring Dr. Wilma Wooten: A Legacy of Equity and Excellence in Public Health
Public Health Officer Wilma Wooten, MD, MPH, is retiring this month after more than two decades of service with San Diego County. She is a true barrier-breaker, visionary, and the definition of a public servant. I want to recognize and celebrate her extraordinary career and thank her for everything she has done for the health of our community.
The Value that Hospitals Bring to Our Lives
In her poem “Lady Geraldine’s Courtship,” Elizabeth Barrett Browning poignantly captures the essence of hospitals in society:
“How many desolate creatures on the earth
Have learnt the simple dues of fellowship
And social comfort, in a hospital”
