The board heard updates on several initiatives at the meeting last week, including the South Lot and the Skilled Nursing Facility Task Force, along with a report on the hospital’s strategic growth initiatives. Here are highlights from the meeting.
South Lot Development
Trent Sanson of DeNova Homes reported that they are proceeding on schedule through the design and approvals phase for the housing planned for the hospital’s South Lot location. He reported that DeNova met with the neighbors and received great input which resulted in several changes to the design plans. He said project plans will go to the Planning Commission this month. He anticipates the project will get final approval late next Spring, and construction could begin right after approval.
SNF Task Force
Board member Jane Hirsch reported that the Skilled Nursing Facility Task Force, which she chairs, implemented new service guidelines in October which are being closely monitored for several months to determine the effect on SNF financials. Hirsch said the task force should have enough data to make a recommendation to the board sometime during the first quarter. There will be a public meeting to share the Task Force’s findings before the recommendations are made to the board.
Growth & Strategy Report
Michelle Donaldson, who is responsible for hospital business development, provided a quarterly update and noted growth in several areas that contribute to the financial health of the hospital.
She reported that the hospital is prioritizing four growth areas: First, to become the UCSF Diagnostic Center for the North Bay with an initial emphasis on Urology; second, to expand surgical weight loss services through creation of a regional Bariatric Institute; third, to develop a holistic focus on Acute and Chronic Pain Management in partnership with the Community Health Center; and forth, to expand health services for women in our community.
Donaldson noted that the hospital has seen growth in direct margins in five of the eight main service areas, and surgeries and procedures are on track to report a seven percent increase this fiscal year over last. She also reported the hospital is seeing increases in orthopedics, cardiology, ophthalmology and diagnostic services.
Audit Approval
The hospital’s outside auditors recently completed their annual audit and congratulations are due to the hospital financial department for their excellent work preparing the information. It is the third year in a row that the audit has been completed without the auditors issuing a Management Letter and no negative findings. We have a very talented finance team!
Honoring Peter Hohorst
I would like to conclude by recognizing Peter Hohorst for his ten years of service to the board and the hospital. Peter decided to retire from the board this year and attended his final board meeting last week. He has made so many contributions to the board and the hospital over the past ten years it’s difficult to know where to begin in honoring him.
Peter, with support from his wife Lorrie, was instrumental in the campaign that passed the $35 million general obligation bond to allow the hospital to meet California seismic standards and support construction of the new Emergency Department and Surgery Center, and the equipment required to operate them, which also included significant community contributions. This dynamic duo was also instrumental in recent successful parcel tax campaigns. These campaigns were essential to keeping the hospital operating in our community.
Peter was the board member most involved in constructing the new wing which houses the new Emergency Department and Surgery Center. He also served as board chair and has been a member of every board committee over the course of his tenure.
What we on the board will miss most, however, is Peter’s ability to get his point across with humor and humanity. Your fellow board members board join the hospital and community in thanking you for your service, Peter, you will be missed.
Our next regular District Board meeting will be held on Thursday, January 10, at 6 pm in the hospital’s basement conference room. The public is welcome to attend, and public comment is always encouraged.
Sincerely,
Joshua,
Joshua Rymer
Chair of the SVHCD Board of Directors