August Board Chair Report
August 7, 2024Leer en español
Dear Sonoma Valley Community,
As the summer brings a slower pace, our August Board meeting reflected this seasonal shift. We took a moment to reflect on Sonoma Valley Hospital’s integral role within the community. Personally, I feel it has been a privilege to serve as a conduit between the Board and you, our engaged community members. I have enjoyed sending out these monthly letters, and truly appreciate your supportive feedback.
This month, our agenda was pretty short. We had scheduled a Seismic Update by representatives from the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California, but they had to postpone due to pivotal activities in Sacramento. We plan to reschedule in the next month or two.
Celebrating a Decade of Enhanced Emergency Services
In his CEO Report, John Hennelly highlighted a significant milestone — the 10th anniversary of our OR/ER expansion. This achievement has been celebrated both within the hospital and throughout the community, including coverage in a recent Sonoma Sun article. We are thankful for the incredible community support that has bolstered our ER program, reflected in our robust patient numbers this summer, marking it as one of the busiest months of the year.
MRI Update*
After many frustrations and licensing delays, we are on the verge of actually putting our new MRI machine to use. Training for our staff has gone smoothly, and we have been scheduling patient appointments. We appreciate your patience and support as we finalize the licensing details and look forward to enhancing our diagnostic capabilities very soon.
Financial Oversight
In his CFO Report, Ben Armfield discussed the financial performance for June, which closely mirrored May’s, exhibiting a mix of positive and negative trends. The hospital is currently managing ongoing transitions, with surgical volumes continuing to impact our overall operating margin negatively. However, June saw a fiscal year high in emergency room visits, helping to offset some of the declines in other areas.
Mr. Armfield also presented various banking proposals to the Finance Committee and the Board. His clear communication and expert analysis were instrumental in helping us make an informed decision with confidence. I have found that Ben’s skills and the rigorous diligence of the Finance Committee continue to be invaluable assets.
Board Retreat
We will be holding a board retreat in the next month or two. The focus will be on looking ahead, with discussion of potential expansion of services and our Master Facilities Plan. We are looking forward to a robust sharing of ideas and will probably include former Board members as well as key Hospital staff.
Our next board meeting is scheduled for September 5th, and we encourage all interested community members to join us, either in person or via Zoom. Board meeting updates and agendas can be found here as the date nears.
If you would like to watch the August meeting in full, a video recording is available here.
Warm regards,
Judy
Judith Bjorndal, M.D.
Board Chair, Sonoma Valley Health Care District
*Between the time I wrote this letter and publication, our 3T MRI was approved for operation. We began seeing patients on Tuesday, August 6th.
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