The HASD&IC Biweekly Briefing provides timely news and information for HASD&IC members and associates and is published on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Key articles and issues of interest from each publication, along with the President’s Message, are included below. Media statements and press releases can also be found here.
Newsroom
CHA Convenes Hospital Leaders to Share Need for Legislative Support to Preserve Vital Services
On April 9, the California Hospital Association (CHA) convened a gathering in Sacramento of critical access hospital (CAH) leaders, legislators, and staff in support of Senate Bill (SB) 1423, which aims to stabilize health care services in rural, remote communities.
CHA Issues Alert Ahead of OHCA Hearing
Earlier this week, the California Hospital Association (CHA) issued an alert urging members to testify at the Office of Health Care Affordability (OHCA) board meeting on April 24. With the board’s final decision on a spending target expected at either the April 24 or May 22 board meeting, it is crucial that hospital voices continue to be heard. The board is currently considering two CHA-supported revisions to the proposed 3%, five-year spending growth target: an adjustment to account for population aging and a glide path to phase the target down over time. Members are encouraged to join the meeting in person or virtually.
Volunteers Are the Heartbeat of the Hospital
Hospitals are only able to provide essential care to patients because many dedicated people come together every day to help those in need. No one exemplifies this dedication more than California’s hospital volunteers. Next week, April 21-27, is National Volunteer Week, and it is a time for us to reflect on the selflessness, kindness, and generosity that can sometimes go unseen and unrecognized. It’s also a time to say thank you.
5 Things To Know: Naloxone Distribution Project | EMS Forum | Virtual Connection Hub | Substance Use Disorder Webinar | HCAI Loan Repayment Program
FREE FENTANYL TEST STRIPS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION PROJECT: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is expanding the Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP) to include fentanyl test strips, which can be obtained by eligible organizations statewide. FTS are used to detect the presence of fentanyl in drug samples prior to ingestion. NDP applicants will […]
Thoughtful Collaboration Leads to Health Care Solutions
Hospitals are facing extraordinary challenges, so being thoughtful about how we tackle the big issues is more important than ever. The pace of what is coming at us every day is relentless. It’s not easy to have meaningful conversations with the right stakeholders at the right time. To truly take on the big issues we need to slow down and create space for deeper insights. That’s a key takeaway for me after attending the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Congress late last month in Chicago, where I joined 5,000 health care professionals from around the country to discuss the leadership that’s needed for the challenges ahead.
5 Things To Know: Impact Wellbeing Guide | Population Health Monitoring Presentation | CHA Tagline Translations | HCAI Portal | California University Receives $20M
CDC RELEASES HEALTH CARE WORKER IMPACT WELLBEING GUIDE : The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health released the Impact Wellbeing Guide: Taking Action to Improve Healthcare Worker Wellbeing. This guide is the newest addition to the Impact Wellbeing campaign launched in October 2023 and provides a step-by-step process […]
HASD&IC Board Meeting Highlights
The HASD&IC Board of Directors convened on March 17. Board Chair and University of California, San Diego Health CEO Patty Maysent, MPH, MBA, officiated. The agenda included an update and discussion on local advocacy priorities, including medical debt, the 2024 Point-in-Time Count of people experiencing homelessness, hospital economic impacts, behavioral health services, emergency medical services, and […]
Point-in-Time Counts Reveal Urgent Need for Solutions to Homelessness Crisis
In January, over 1,000 volunteers conducted the annual Point-in-Time Count to assess homelessness in San Diego and Imperial counties. Part of a nationwide effort from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the count surveys those who are unsheltered, on the streets, or in shelters the morning of the count. While the 2024 numbers will be released this spring, we are likely to see the continuation of a trend that started in 2023. Last year, San Diego County saw a 35% increase to approximately 6,500 unhoused individuals, while Imperial County experienced a 23% increase to more than 1,300 individuals.
5 Things To Know: Opioid Pilot Project | North County Shelter | April NAMIWalks | Blue Envelope Program | Rural Health Care Symposium
SAN DIEGO COUNTY LAUNCHES PROGRAM TO REDUCE OPIOID MISUSE: San Diego County has launched a pilot project to reduce access to, and misuse of, prescription opioids by encouraging safe disposal. Through the program, which will primarily focus on east and central areas where overdose death rates are highest, both health care providers and patients who […]
We Are All Responsible for Rural Health Care Access
People talk about the rural-urban divide, but the reality for health care and hospitals is that we are interconnected. And California’s rural hospitals are at a fiscal crossroad. Right now, 56% percent of rural hospitals are losing money on patient care — up 16% in just five years. Health care access for more than 2 million Californians is shrinking.
