President’s Message

It’s Hard to Think ‘Bolder and Brighter’ When the Situation Feels Dire      

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Bolder. Brighter.   

The two words connote a positive tone — progress, fearlessness, courageousness. They also happened to be the theme of the 2023 American College of Healthcare Executives Congress,  where health leaders gathered to explore practical solutions to the challenges we face today, particularly in the wake of the pandemic.  

It’s Time to Get Serious About Fixing the EMS System

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This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.Back in the ’70s, when the EMS system of today was in its infancy, the needs of those it served were much different. In those days, the system was designed largely to handle traffic accidents — which, in the absence of seat […]

Hospitals in Need of a Lifeline 

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This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.Few hospitals in California are immune from the financial challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, years of Medi-Cal underfunding, and ongoing inflationary pressures. And hospitals in our region are no different. That’s why an agreement reached earlier this week that will […]

Preparing for the End of the Public Health Emergency and Title 42 

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This post has been archived and contains information that may be out of date.Come May 11, your hospitals could have fewer tools to manage increasing volumes. That’s because May 11 is the date the federal public health emergency expires, and likely along with it — Title 42. This pandemic-era policy was put in place under […]

State of Emergency May Be Ending, But Pandemic’s Impacts Will Linger 

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When California’s state of emergency ends on Feb. 28 after three years and nearly 100,000 COVID-19 deaths, it will — in essence — mark a new chapter for the pandemic. While the end of the state of emergency doesn’t necessarily mean the pandemic is over, the governor’s office believes it has the measures in place that will allow California to phase out this tool. 

A New Year with Similar Challenges   

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The calendar may read January 2023, but in many ways, it feels like January 2022. Many hospitals are overwhelmed with patients — although, unlike in 2022 it’s not just COVID-19 but flu, RSV, and those with months of delayed care.

Reflections on 2022  

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As yet another unprecedented year draws to a close, I’m reminded of how far we’ve come and all that we’ve accomplished in 2022. This year has not been without its challenges — including ambulance patient offload delays, workforce shortages, and the most recent tripledemic of flu, respiratory syncytial virus, and COVID-19 — which makes it all the more important to take time this holiday season to celebrate and reflect on what has been done: 

After Two Years of Virtual Annual Meetings, A Welcome Opportunity to Gather In Person

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My sincere thanks to those who were able to attend the HASD&IC Annual Meeting on Nov. 17. I know your time is valuable, especially given the current headwinds that many of your hospitals are facing. After two years of being apart, it was great to return to an in-person meeting and hear about the issues important to hospitals and our members.

A Time to Reflect and Give Thanks

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Gratitude (noun): the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

Next week, many of you will gather to celebrate Thanksgiving. And although we all have our own ways in which we will observe the day, gratitude will no doubt be at the heart of the celebrations.

Preparing for a Potential ‘Tripledemic’

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If the public health officials’ predictions are true, we’re in for a “tripledemic” of viruses — influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 this winter.