March Board Chair Report
March 19, 2025Leer en español
We are proud to welcome in March with a special recognition as a top performing hospital from Partnership HealthPlan’s (PHP) Hospital Quality Improvement Program (HQIP). Sonoma Valley Hospital is one of only eight hospitals to achieve a perfect 100% score. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire hospital team to provide accessible health care to community. We are grateful for their ongoing commitment to providing outstanding care.
5-Year Strategic Plan Update
CEO John Hennelly provided an update on the hospital’s 5-Year Strategic Plan (2023–2028), which is focused on four key pillars.
- Realign Our Main Campus: New, state-of-the-art diagnostic CT/MRI services are now available. Recruitment efforts are ongoing for faculty and staff, including social workers and Advance Practice Nurse positions. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives continue, including the formation of DEI and Health Equity Committees. The hospital has also achieved the Age-Friendly designation for inpatient services.
- Bring Care Into the Community: Three new primary care providers have joined the team. Our Geriatric Care Program and Physical Therapy services continue to expand, and Health Education seminars are now being offered to support the health of the community.
- Sustainability: Efforts to strengthen relationships with insurance partners and financial institutions continue, ensuring the hospital’s long-term sustainability. The hospital has successfully grown revenue while effectively managing expenses.
- Seismic Compliance: A strategic plan is being developed to present to the State by January 2026, ensuring continued compliance with California’s seismic standards and the hospital’s ongoing safety and sustainability strategy
Financial Update – Ben Armfield
CFO Ben Armfield provided an update on the financial performance for January which was another strong month for Sonoma Valley Hospital, with continued growth in key service lines. This increase in volume helped drive occupancy, resulting in a busier month than anticipated and marking the best operational performance of the fiscal year to date. The hospital exceeded revenue expectations, with strong growth in physical therapy and emergency room volumes, along with a boost from Rate Range Intergovernmental Transfer (IGT) funds. Operating expenses were slightly above budget but remained well-managed. Thanks to the additional funds, the hospital experienced a notable improvement in cash reserves.
Ben Armfield also reported that we will engage with Moss-Adams to conduct our annual Financial Audit, which will be delivered in late 2025.
Committee Update
During the meeting, a proposal to combine the Finance and Audit Committees was discussed and approved. This change will help streamline our operations and maintain strong financial oversight moving forward.
Strategic Planning and Future Meetings
The Board will be holding a strategic planning session later this month to further discuss the hospital’s sustainability and growth. Board members will be joined by individuals from our Sonoma Valley Hospital, our community and our UCSF affiliate partner for this important conversation.
Looking ahead, our Board meetings will begin at 5:00 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for April 3, 2025. We truly appreciate your ongoing involvement and support as we continue working together to strengthen Sonoma Valley Hospital and enhance the care we provide.
Thank you for your commitment to our community hospital and the well-being of our broader community.
Warm regards,
Wendy Lee Myatt
Board Chair, Sonoma Valley Health Care District
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