It’s less than 24 hours after Election Day; many votes are still being counted, and our democracy is at work. A lot is at stake for our health care system. Elections shape the landscape in which hospitals operate, influencing everything from health care policy to funding priorities. Understanding and adapting to these shifts is essential to maintaining and advancing the quality of care we provide for our patients.
One of the foundations of democracy is that elected officials are accountable to the people — they listen and share their vision for the future. That’s why I want to highlight the elected officials who will join us for the HASD&IC Annual Meeting on Nov. 21 in Carlsbad, where they will engage in a dialogue about their vision for improving health care in our region, priorities for the coming year, and of course, the impact of the election. We’re fortunate to be joined by San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones, Imperial County Board of Supervisors Chairman Luis A. Plancarte, San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Nora Vargas, and San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert.
The work of health care leaders goes beyond patient care; it extends to advocating for the needs of our patients, communities, and our workforce in the face of evolving policies. Our role is not only to respond but also to engage, ensuring that our voices are part of the dialogue around health care and social issues. If you haven’t done so, I encourage you to register for the meeting to engage with elected officials, experts, policy leaders, health care professionals, and others on a variety of pressing issues.
These are transformative times. As we move forward from this election, it’s critical that we stay focused on our mission to serve, working together to shape a future of equitable, accessible health care for all Californians.