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.
Newsroom
Associate Member Spotlight: The Elizabeth Hospice
The Elizabeth Hospice has been a trusted community resource for hospice, palliative care, and grief support services in San Diego County and Southwest Riverside County for more than 44 years. Its services have touched the lives of more than 120,000 children and adults who face the challenges associated with an advanced, life-limiting illness. It ensures […]
5 Things To Know: Fentanyl Screening, Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), CHA Forum, State of Emergency, Behavioral Health
FENTANYL SCREENING: The California Department of Public Health has issued an All Facilities Letter (AFL) 22-25 on fentanyl screening. The AFL notifies general acute care hospitals (GACH) of the passage of Senate Bill 864 (Chapter 169, Statutes of 2022) and its requirement that a GACH that is conducting a diagnostic urine drug screening must also include testing for fentanyl, until Jan. 1, 2028. For questions about this AFL, hospitals should contact their respective district office.
After Two Years of Virtual Annual Meetings, A Welcome Opportunity to Gather In Person
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.
5 Things To Know: Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), Nursing Grants, Report on State Legislation, Medi-Cal RX Expansion, AHA Suicide Prevention Resources
COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA): Please join HASD&IC and CHNA-participating hospitals, health systems, and health districts for a community stakeholder briefing from 10 to 11:30 a.m. (PT) Nov. 29. The briefing will include a presentation on the 2022 CHNA as well as a discussion about potential future research and the next steps to address the identified community needs. Please forward this information to anyone in your network who might be interested in attending. The 2022 CHNA report is available on the HASD&IC website. After reviewing the report, please consider sharing your feedback through our survey.
A Time to Reflect and Give Thanks
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’
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.
5 Things To Know: Medi-Cal Fraud Prevention Training, Retention Payment Program, Behavioral Health Funding Opportunities, Skilled-Nursing Facilities, Community College Instructors Needed
MEDI-CAL FRAUD PREVENTION TRAINING: The Department of Health Care Services Investigations Division will join HASD&IC for a webinar on Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon (PT) to provide Medi-Cal Fraud Prevention Training. The main objective of this training is to help preserve professional ethics and integrity to ensure that Medi-Cal benefits and other public program benefits are provided only to eligible persons. Attendees will hear potential fraud indicators and appropriate actions to take if they do encounter a suspicious situation. This training opportunity is highly encouraged for any hospital or vendor staff who assist patients with their Medi-Cal application and is a great opportunity to ask any questions about Medi-Cal fraud concerns. Please pass along the invitation to any staff and colleagues who would be interested in attending.
Randy Oostra, DM, FACHE (63)
Randy Oostra, DM, FACHE (63), is the Chief Executive Officer of ProMedica, a not-for-profit mission-based, integrated health and well-being organization headquartered in Toledo, Ohio. The $7 billion organization serves communities in 28 states. It offers acute and ambulatory care, an insurance company with a dental plan, and post-acute and academic business lines. The organization has more than 43,000 employees, 12 hospitals, 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers with privileges, 1,000+ healthcare providers employed by ProMedica Physicians, a health plan, and more than 335 assisted living facilities, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, memory care communities, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and hospice and home health care agencies.
Randy has more than 40 years of health care and management expertise, with 25 of those years spent at ProMedica. Randy is regarded as one of the nation’s top leaders in health care and has earned a spot on several prestigious listings, which include Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People for five consecutive years (2017-2021), Becker’s Hospital Review 100 Great Leaders to Know in Healthcare (2019) and Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Innovators (2022).
ProMedica has received numerous national recognitions and accolades under Randy’s leadership. The organization is widely known as a national leader in addressing the social determinants of health and is consistently recognized by national associations and accrediting agencies for superior clinical quality, safety, and patient experience. The organization’s flagship Toledo Hospital received a 5-star rating from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is recognized as one of the nation’s 50 best hospitals by Healthgrades. All ProMedica wholly owned, qualifying hospitals have received ratings of 3 stars and above from CMS. Additionally, ProMedica earned a spot on Forbes Magazine’s 2017 list of America’s Best Employers.
Associate Member Spotlight: IPROTEAN
IPRO is the nation’s fastest growing virtual board education company for hospital and health system board members. Featuring the nation’s most distinguished thought leaders and subject matter experts in health care, the IPRO platform delivers bite-sized micro-lessons in governance; finance; mission and strategy; quality; and technology and innovation. Video lessons are available on-demand and viewable […]
5 Things To Know: Imperial County, Reminder — CDPH Leadership Updates and District Session, Addressing Homelessness, MEDICARE MEDI-CAL Plans (MMPS), Loan Repayment and Scholarship Program Application Cycles
IMPERIAL COUNTY: Larry Lewis, who has been Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District CEO since 2012, has been hired to lead the Imperial County Local Health Authority. The announcement was made at the commission meeting on Oct. 10. He will assume responsibilities with the health authority on Nov. 14. We thank Larry for his years of service on the HASD&IC board and for his leadership at Pioneers to enhance the health and well-being of Imperial County communities. We wish him the best in his next endeavor and look forward to working with him in his new role.
