Community Spotlight: Valley of the Moon Post-Acute
July 14, 2022Leer en español
2022 July Board Chair Report
Community Spotlight: Valley of the Moon Post-Acute
Each board meeting, we hear from one of our health partners and this month it was Valley of the Moon Post-Acute (VOM). VOM is a 27-bed licensed skilled nursing facility located within our hospital providing the next step for some of our patients who no longer require acute inpatient care at the hospital but are not yet ready to return to independent living. These patients are then able to continue their recovery in the Skilled Nursing rehabilitation programs offered at the facility.
Michael Tully, the newly appointed Executive Director of VOM reported on the quality of care, safety, patient satisfaction and financials of the facility. The report was very positive on all fronts: patients report very high satisfaction, the facility has extremely high quality of care results and VOM continues to always have beds available for SVH patients. US News and World Report has given Valley of the Moon Post-Acute Care an overall rating of 5 out of 5 and a short-term rehabilitation rating of High Performing. It’s one of the many partnerships that we have developed over the years that work well for our community.
Outpatient Diagnostic Center is Set to Open this August
We’re excited to announce that the first phase of the new 20,000 square foot Outpatient Diagnostic Center, which includes a new state-of-the art 128-slice CT scanner, will be completed late this August. Among the many benefits of the new technology is that physicians will no longer have to refer patients outside of Sonoma Valley for advanced diagnostic care and UCSF Health has committed to use the facility as its diagnostic center for the North Bay. The second phase, which includes a new 3 Tesla MRI, along with updated ultrasound and X-ray equipment, and updated space and equipment for cardiology and laboratory services, will be our next focus.
As the largest privately funded campaign ever in Sonoma Valley, this $21 million effort was the result of the generosity of our community and represents a significant investment in the community’s health and wellbeing. We are thrilled those patients can start taking advantage of the new facility soon.
MyChart and a New Electronic Health Record System is Arriving
The Board received an update on the installation of our new Electronic Health Record system at last week’s board meeting. By mid-December 2022, the new system will be in place, and it promises many benefits. For example, patients will have easier access to their health information through MyChart, an online portal where patients can review their records, make appointments, and ask questions of their doctor. The new system also provides a streamlined approach allowing patients to share their health data with physicians and healthcare providers in other communities in order to optimize their care. Over the next few months, we will be installing the hardware, building new protocols, and training staff on its use so we’re ready for the December launch.
Brief Updates
• Sonoma Valley Hospital Nationally Recognized for Its Commitment to Providing High-Quality Stroke Care
Sonoma Valley Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Silver Plus Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability, and accelerating recovery times. (Info at heart.org.) We’re extremely proud of this award as it demonstrates SVH’s commitment to bringing Sonoma Valley the best care using the most current practices.
• Sonoma Valley Hospital’s New Chief Nursing Officer
We are thrilled to announce that Jessica Winkler has taken on the role of Chief Nursing Officer for SVH. Jessica is committed to our mission, vision, and principles. She brings 17 years of experience and will be instrumental in leading our patient care teams and nurses through these challenging times. Jessica has served as Director of Patient Care Services since 2018 where she delivered high quality of care standards and was integral in elevating patient experience and outcomes.
• Seeking Candidates for the Healthcare District Board
We are encouraging candidates to step forward to fill the two new board positions for the Sonoma Valley Health Care District. Trustees have historically had a variety of backgrounds, but all have shared a commitment to the mission of our hospital, a love of our community and have been interested in creating a healthy Sonoma Valley. If you are interested or would like to talk to someone about what being a trustee entails, any of our current board members (including myself) would be delighted to speak with you. The filing date is coming up July 18 through August 12 with the election occurring November 8, 2022. For more information, visit the Sonoma County Clerk’s website HERE.
• Remote Board Meetings Continue
The SVH board will continue to meet remotely until the end of this year. Our next board meeting is via Zoom, Thursday, August 4, 6 pm. Everyone is welcome. To obtain meeting information and link, visit www.sonomavalleyhospital.org.
Sincerely,
Joshua
Joshua Rymer
Chair of the SVHCD Board of Directors
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