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 From the Desk of Ken Cohen, Executive Director
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Member Engagement Matters
Congratulations to Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District and Mayers Memorial Hospital District on achieving Certified Healthcare District status. I had the opportunity to visit the Districts in July and to congratulate the Boards on this accomplishment. My visit also reinforced how essential these Districts are to the two communities they serve in Brawley and Fall Rivers, California respectively. Without the services and programs provided in these geographically remote areas, residents would have to travel between 50-70 miles to receive essential health care locally. The value of these hospitals is particularly important for emergency service and basic medical care. Both Districts also serve as a community hub and have considerable positive economic impacts (source of employment as an example) and with related positive social impacts, as well.
Mayers Memorial Hospital District
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Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District |
Wellness Summit
ACHD, in collaboration with Stanford Health Improvement Program and WELL For Life, conducted our inaugural Wellness Summit in July. The Summit was well attended with broad staff attendees from nearly 18 Healthcare Districts. I really enjoyed and appreciated the presentations by Fallbrook, Mayers Memorial, Petaluma and Mark Twain Healthcare Districts regarding their wellness initiatives, including collaborations with community partners. Planning is already underway for 2018 Wellness Summit; to prepare for next year's summit, ACHD will host webinars with Stanford Health Improvement Network to provide Healthcare Districts with tools and templates to enhance health while encouraging engagement and assessment of communities served. Additionally, we will continue to showcase District initiatives and network opportunities to share best practices in wellness and prevention. If you attended the Wellness Summit and have not yet provided your feedback, I encourage you to access the survey
here, and find more pictures from our event on our
Twitter and
Facebook page.
Board Retreat
The ACHD Board of Directors will be holding its annual strategic planning retreat August 9th, and I believe the outcome will advance the Association's ability to represent our Members and elevate our Districts as role models for all special district governance and accountability. Healthcare Districts play a unique role in the health care system in California, local governance, responsive service, and the commitment to the health and well-being of our communities is a special bond shared by all, whether large or small, urban or rural. Your Association is working hard to assure that Healthcare Districts continue to demonstrate what is best about local government, that our Members can flourish and be admired, and that the resources and support you need is enhanced through our efforts.
See you in September at the Annual Meeting.
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Legislative Update
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Little Hoover Commission
ACHD's Advocacy Team continues to engage with the Little Hoover Commission. In response to their recently published draft recommendations for special districts, including those specific to Healthcare Districts, ACHD submitted this letter. Additionally, the Commission released their formal summary of their Roundtable on Special Districts, held on June 22, 2017, here. The Commission's final report is expected later this summer or early fall.
ACHD Working Group
The ACHD Working Group Healthcare District Law Subcommittee began meeting in July to discuss potential updates and revisions to the Healthcare District enabling act. The first two in-person meetings were a success with representatives from
Districts throughout the state, the California Special Districts Association and the District Hospital Leadership Forum participating. The Subcommittee will continue to meet over the next few months. ACHD will continue to keep you updated as progress is made.
Legislative Update
The Legislature adjourned for their month-long Summer Recess on July 21. The policy committee deadline passed in July, and after the Legislature reconvenes on August 21, legislation will be heard in Appropriations committees and/or the Floor of the second house. Here is an update on the key bills ACHD has an active position on:
AB 893 (Garcia, Eduardo, D-Coachella) implements a study on the need for additional residency programs in Imperial County and similarly medically underserved counties. This bill was held in Senate Health Committee. ACHD supports this measure.
AB 979 (Lackey, R-Palmdale) allows special districts to vote on LAFCO representation in a meeting of the county's independent special districts selection committee This bill is eligible to be heard on the Senate Floor on August 21. ACHD supports this measure.
AB 994 (Muratsuchi, D-Manhattan Beach) authorizes Beach Cities Health District to utilize the design-build process for a construction project on a pilot basis. This bill is eligible to be heard on the Senate Floor on August 21. ACHD supports this measure.
AB 1728 (Committee on Local Government) requires Healthcare Districts to: 1. create and maintain a website, which must include contact information for the district 2. annually adopt a budget 3. annually adopt policies for providing assistance or grant funding to ensure funding is spent on health care services consistent with the mission and purpose of the District. This bill will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 21. ACHD supports this measure.
SB 448 (Wieckowski, D-Fremont) streamlines LAFCO review to dissolve districts that are no longer providing public services or never became active after their formation. SB 448 provides an efficient process for LAFCOs to address these districts in a manner that preserves LAFCO resources while ensuring appropriate public discussion. This bill will be heard next by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Due to recent amendments, ACHD now supports of this measure.
SB 793 (Hill, D-San Mateo) authorizes Peninsula Healthcare District to utilize the design-build process on a pilot basis. This bill will be heard next by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. ACHD supports this measure.
For more bills ACHD has a position on, find our full Legislative Reports on our website,
here.
Please contact
Amber King at (916) 266-5207, with questions or comments.
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Healthcare District Engagement Tour Reaches 4,859 Miles Traveled!
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ACHD's Senior Legislative Advocate Amber King and
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Views From the Road!
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Member
Services Specialist Sheila Johnston continued
their tour of
Healthcare
Districts!
This month, Amber
and Sheila visited Last Frontier Healthcare
District (Alturas),
Surprise Valley Health Care District (Cedarville),
Antelope
Valley Healthcare District (Lancaster), Tehachapi Valley
Healthcare District (Tehachapi) and Redbud Healthcare
District
(Clearlake).
Our road trip to California's Healthcare
Districts
has been a great opportunity for the ACHD team to
see our
Districts in action and meet key players in advancing
community
health. We will continue visiting Districts over
the next few
months; remember to follow our road trip on Twitter and Facebook!
Surprise Valley Healthcare District (Cedarville)
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Tehachapi Valley Healthcare District (Tehachapi)
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Redbud Healthcare District
(Clearlake)
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Antique wheelchair, Tehachapi Valley Healthcare District (Tehachapi)
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Surprise Valley Healthcare District (Cedarville)
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Last Frontier Healthcare District (Alturas)
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Last Frontier Healthcare District (Alturas)
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Antelope Valley Healthcare District (Lancaster)
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Antelope Valley Healthcare District (Lancaster)
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Don't Forget to Register for Annual Meeting!
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The Association's Education Committee has planned the 65th Annual Meeting with a focus on preparing Healthcare Districts for the challenges ahead and the role of District's in the face of change. Our program is designed to inspire innovation and motivate Districts to prepare for the future.
Newly elected, as well as experienced trustees and executives will want to attend our Annual Meeting. Networking with colleagues and sharing best practices will help elevate Healthcare District performance to the next level. This year's meeting will include wellness activities that will create a new level of energy!
Join us for what will be our best educational event ever!
Click here for a schedule of events.
Costs:
- Member: $800/attendee
- Non-Member: $1500/attendee
- Guest of Member: $250 (Meals only)
- Guest of Non-Member: $750 (Meals Only)
Note: Registration fees include all meals.
Please contact
Sheila Johnston
with any questions or concerns. We hope to see you there!
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| In Case You Missed It... Healthcare District News from Around the State |
   
Devon Mathis, Inyo County's representative in the State Assembly, toured Northern Inyo Healthcare District in late June. In meeting with the district's leadership, Mathis got a first-hand look at the advances the District has made in improving access to modern technology and provider services during the last year. Click here to read the full article.
The Marin General Hospital Foundation this week received a $10 million gift from an anonymous local family.
The Marin-based family foundation has given to other health care organizations but is a first-time donor to this hospital. This donation will go toward the hospital's $535 million renovation, which is a part of the effort to meet seismic safety regulations required by 2030.
Click here
to read the full article.
New Executive Director at Mark Twain Health Care District has a plan for the future
Dr. Randall Smart is the new executive director of the Mark Twain Health Care District.
Stepping in for interim Executive Director Larry Blitz on June 25, Smart is ready to merge his 35-plus years of experience in the health care field to take the Calaveras County hospital district into the future of medical care.
Click here to read the full article
.
New machine funded by Desert Healthcare District helps local prostate cancer patients
A local prostate cancer patient was the the first in the Coachella Valley to receive a new form of cancer treatment previously unavailable in the region.
The patient, whose name is being withheld for privacy reasons, received his first treatment utilizing the Spectra Optia technology Friday morning at LifeStream Blood Bank's La Quinta Donor Center.
Click here
to read the full article.
Local city aims to get fit with local wellness park (Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District)
A ceremony was held for a new wellness park that provides the community with access to exercise equipment anytime of the day. "We're fighting obesity, we have some of the highest rates of childhood obesity in the country," said Ben Hueso, California State Senator. Click here to read the full article.
Desert Healthcare District gives $2 million for homeless services, closing gap in funding for new west valley program
The Desert Healthcare District is now invested in fighting homelessness.
The district board voted 5-0 to give $2 million to a new collective fund to support homeless services, and to start seeking other donations.
And for any cities that give $103,000 to the new West Valley Housing Navigation Program, the district has promised matching funds.
Click here
to read the full article.
70 Strong: Sequoia Healthcare District program aims to engage, help seniors
At 88, Surlene Grant is the kind of person the Sequoia Healthcare District and Peninsula Family Service are targeting with a new program to help seniors live more fulfilling lives. Click here to read the full article.
More mobile health services coming to Mountain View
Responding to rising levels of homelessness and poor access to health care among the North County's neediest residents, the El Camino Healthcare District has approved more than $1.3 million in grants this year to fund mobile health services including primary and mental health care in Mountain View and Sunnyvale. Click here to read the full article.
Pioneers Memorial offers new radiology technology
Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District purchased an additional new radiology device that will provide better diagnoses and treat many forms of cancer, gastrointestinal and genitourinary disorders, and other traumatic injuries for Imperial Valley families.
Click here
to read the full article.
AV Hospital Implants First Leadless Pacemaker in the Antelope Valley
Cardiologists at Antelope Valley Hospital Institute for Heart & Vascular Care became the first in the area to implant a leadless pacemaker. The initial procedure was performed on a 79-year-old patient yesterday by Dr. Sameh Gadallah, AVH's cath lab medical director. Click here to read the full press release.
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ACHD is in the process of creating and updating our Healthcare District database to be better positioned to rapidly respond to requests for information.
ACHD has hired Andrea Lopez, a doctoral student of Public Health at the University of California, Merced, to collect a comprehensive data set on each Healthcare District. Andrea will compile data relating to communities served, types of services a District provides, financials, transparency practices, and election data. In addition to finding data through online databases, she will contact Healthcare District CEOs to ask for any information unable to find on the internet.
Thank you for your cooperation as we move forward with this project. Andrea is looking forward to speaking with you!
Please feel free to contact Sheila Johnston
with any questions or concerns regarding this matter.
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