At the March board meeting, Chief Medical Officer Sabrina Kidd, MD, updated the board on the extensive preparations the hospital has undertaken for the growing Novel Coronavirus outbreak. She noted that the hospital is as prepared as it can be for what is a rapidly changing situation, and that the hospital has seen no Coronavirus patients and there are no indications the virus is present in Sonoma Valley.
She said that the hospital has taken direction from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health to institute readiness and response protocols, as well as receiving guidance from UCSF. The hospital has created a Novel Coronavirus information section for the community on its website which is updated as new information becomes available. It can be accessed here.
Perioperative Services Report
Leslie Lovejoy, RN, Ph.D., Project Manager, and Janine Clark, RN Manager, Perioperative Services, reported on new practices the hospital has adopted for pre-surgery patient care designed to make perioperative services more efficient for patients. As part of its efforts, the hospital has instituted One Medical Passport, a new intake process offered to patients in the physician’s office at the time of scheduling a procedure which streamlines the process and better prepares patients for surgery.
Their report noted that the trend continues toward outpatient surgery over inpatient each year at SVH, which is in line with overall hospital industry trends, and that the SVH Surgery Center has become very efficient with utilization at 87 percent.
CEO Updates
CEO Kelly Mather updated the board on several projects underway, including the recent investigation into obtaining Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status for our hospital, which would increase Medicare funding. While the hospital meets some CAH criteria, it does not have rural hospital designation and does not meet the requirement of being at least 15 miles from the nearest hospital. Kelly reported that the next step is to set up a meeting with our congressional representative to explore ways to achieve CAH designation.
Kelly said that the first phase of the hospital’s new Outpatient Diagnostic Center continues on budget and on schedule. This phase includes building a new Computed Tomography (CT) scanner suite in the section of the hospital that housed the old Surgery Department. Plans also include an enlarged waiting room along with upgrades to nearby corridors and public areas. Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2020. She also reported that the campaign has raised $19.4 million of the $21 million needed for both phases.
Kelly also noted that the DeNova Homes housing development is moving ahead on the site formerly called the Hospital’s South Lot, and expects to have sales models open this summer. The 20-home development is planned to add needed affordable housing to the community, and includes four affordable housing rentals and 12 accessible dwelling units which can be rented by owners.
Next Board Meeting
The next regular District Board meeting will be held on Thursday, April 2, at 6 pm in the City Council Chamber Meeting Room, 177 1st St. West in Sonoma. The public is welcome to attend and public comment is always encouraged.
Sincerely,
Jane
Jane Hirsch
Chair of the SVHCD Board of Directors