Sonoma Valley Hospital to begin treating Napa State Hospital patients

Sonoma Valley Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kelly Mather announced that she has signed a contract with Napa State Hospital (NSH) to provide medical services to its patients, starting September 1, 2010.

The contract, said Mather, is a “win-win,” designed to ensure a steady flow of income to Sonoma Valley Hospital and provide coordinated and comprehensive acute care medical services for Napa State Hospital patients, in cooperation with Marin Individual Practice Association (MIPA). Sonoma Valley Hospital will receive a fair amount for those services and will work together with Napa State Hospital to ensure safety, efficiency and financial performance.

This marks a new stage in innovation and upward growth of Sonoma Valley Hospital. "Sonoma Valley Hospital is undergoing a positive transformation,” said Mather. “Our new agreement to care for the Napa State Hospital patients is an example of our current, innovative approach to expand our services and increase our capability to carry out our mission to maintain and improve the health of everyone in our community."

The contract has been signed after extensive study and negotiations, during which Sonoma Valley Hospital and Napa State Hospital have worked together to ensure the correct facilities arrangements for Napa State Hospital patients and the optimum security and confidence for Sonoma Valley Hospital staff, patients and surrounding community.

Chief Medical Executive Robert Cohen said, “The Medical Staff is looking forward to providing excellent clinical care to Napa State Hospital Patients. This program is truly an example of a team effort that included Administration, our employees, and physicians and is what I hope will be the first of many new programs that will enhance the patient experience and ensure the financial sustainability of Sonoma Valley Hospital.”

Sonoma Valley Health Care District Board Chair Bill Boerum complimented both entities for the cooperative effort and careful planning that has brought the program to this stage. “Our administrative and clinical teams, together with their counterparts at Napa State Hospital, have concluded a careful assessment of the challenges and practices needed to ensure high quality care for this new stream of patients,” said Boerum, “while addressing the safety concerns for our patients and staff as well as for the community at large.”

Mather said she would work with the City to make sure all necessary and suggested security measures were put into practice. In addition to the security that Napa State Hospital will provide with each patient coming to Sonoma Valley Hospital, she has asked for a new security guard to be present on campus from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting in September.  This is for the security of all patients and staff – especially those who work late into the night.

When meeting with SVH leadership on Friday, Mather stressed that Sonoma Valley Hospital is committed to providing these patients – as they do all patients – with excellent and compassionate care.

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  PRESS RELEASE August 30, 2010

Sonoma Valley Hospital welcomes Dr. Scott Perryman

Dr. Scott Perryman, Prima Medical Group’s new Stanford, Fellowship-Trained General Surgeon, will join Sonoma Valley hospital’s growing team of surgeons and will be ready for business right after Labor Day.
 
He brings to Sonoma a depth of experience and training in the very latest techniques in general surgery, along with a commitment to the personal, compassionate side of medicine. “I’ve been through the healthcare system with family members,” he said, “and I know what it is to be on the other side. People need to have a doctor to come in who will hold your hand and who really cares – and that’s me.”

Dr. Perryman graduated from Howard University College of Medicine in 2002, as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society, and completed his surgical residency at Stanford University in 2009.  He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in stem cell research in 2006, and an advanced minimally invasive laparoscopic and bariatric surgery fellowship at Stanford in 2010.

He is also a member of multiple surgical societies including the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons (ASMBS) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and has presented his research at the ACS Clinical Congress. 

Jointly recruited by Sonoma Valley Hospital and Prima Medical Group, Dr. Perryman said he chose to practice in Sonoma because of its scale, its quality and personal tone. “I like the fact that it’s a smaller hospital,” he said. “It has a nice personal touch. It gives me a chance to build and I feel like I’m coming in and really helping the hospital.”

“Dr. Perryman was sought after by many top healthcare organizations,” said SVHCD Chief Executive Officer Kelly Mather, “but of all the choices, he wanted to live in Sonoma!  I believe he will be a key physician in our plans to keep Sonoma Valley residents seeking their healthcare in our own community."  
 

Sonoma Valley Sun| August 12, 2010  Email This Post

Hospital banks bond funds

Staff Report

Sonoma Valley Bank President Sean Cutting, second from right, shows $23 million check to Sonoma Valley Hospital officials Tim Noakes, Kelly Mather and Bill Boerum.

There’s nothing like a $22.9 million check to bring out the smiles.
On Tuesday, Sean Cutting, president of Sonoma Valley Bank, notified Sonoma Valley Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kelly Mather, that the final portion of general obligation bonds had been deposited in the SVH account.
The exact amount, after costs of issuance, was $22,857,732.
“We’re delighted to receive the funds from the second and final bond issuance authorized by the voters in 2008, said Bill Boerum, chair of the Sonoma Valley Health Care District board of directors. “We’ve had a very thorough process by the hospital administration to plan for the use of these funds, and we’ve had have excellent citizen oversight of the monies used to date.”
Kelly Mather, the hospital’s new chief executive officer of Sonoma Valley Hospital, expressed her excitement going forward.
“We are very blessed to have such a supportive community,” she said.  “With this funding, Sonoma Valley Hospital will not only continue to meet the healthcare needs of our residents, but I believe we will become the preferred choice for hospital care.”
Tim Noakes, posing with Mather, Boerum and Cutting, at the end of his final day as chief financial officer of Sonoma Valley Hospital, said, “I‘m very excited the community has reached this point, where they’ve taken (funds) and are on the cusp of building a new, seismically compliant facility for the community of Sonoma Valley.”
Facility upgrade planning and design is underway.

Posted: Thursday, August 5, 2010 6:31 pm

Sonoma Valley patients won't have to travel long distances for their MRIs. Now, Sonoma Valley Hospital owns its own MRI van, which is open for business Monday through Friday.

"This means quicker access, more convenience," said Jackie Lyons, director of Imaging Services. She explained that SVH no longer contracts with a mobile service that was on site two days a week, but now, with its "very own" MRI van, can actually provide service five days a week. "I've been dreaming of this for years," she said.

Timeliness can be crucial for the kinds of symptoms that call for MRI diagnostics. For someone with headache, stroke, change of vision, weakness the preferred diagnostic would be an MRI, according to Chief Radiologist Dr. W. James DeMartini.

"In the past, we would make sure there was nothing critically wrong, we'd use a CT, and then, when the truck came back, we would follow it up with an MRI. Now, we can do the MRI first," he said.

For orthopedists, when speed isn't so crucial, the MRI capability is still an essential tool. "In the past, we just had x-rays to show the bones, now with MRI we can look at ligaments and cartilage as well," said DeMartini.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Noah Weiss said he was pleased. "I think it's great. I think it's a huge convenience. Obviously, patients don't have to travel out of town, and it's a lot easier for us because we can pull up the images on our computers locally."

Quality will continue to be outstanding. "Our radiologists were already very pleased with the quality that the mobile service was providing," said Lyons, "so we knew that was our standard to meet. The images are very nice."

The strength of an imaging service is in the interpretation, and Sonoma Valley Hospital's images are read by some of the finest radiologists in the area. "The orthopedic MRIs are being read by the top notch orthopedic radiologists at national Orthopedic Imaging Associates," said Lyons, "and the remaining MRIs are being read by our own trusted and reputable radiologists that work here."

Cost is another advantage. "It turns out that it will cost us less monthly, including staffing and consumables now than it was to pay for our mobile service," said Lyons.

The reason for the purchase at this time, is that the lease term was coming to an end and SVH decided it would do more for patients than having the service only two days a week.

"Especially with new orthopedists coming to town," said Lyons, "I felt, if we build it, they will come."

Since it's been here, she said, with a grin, they've been "slammed."

This, from the Index Tribune

Small hospital, great assets

Posted: Thursday, August 5, 2010 5:51 pm

Editor, Index-Tribune:

I wanted to thank the nursing staff of Sonoma Valley Hospital for the wonderful care they gave to my husband during his recent illness and surgery, especially to the medical/surgical nursing staff, with a special acknowledgement to RNs Jessica, Karin, Ragini and Lauren, CNA Sue, Laura Burd in the cardio-pulmonary department, Linda Huff, discharge coordinator, Savannah Long in ACU, and supervisor Paula Headley.

I would also like to thank Dr. Christina Lee and her staff for all their assistance and care, the surgical department and the kitchen staff for the complimentary trays that were pretty tasty for hospital food.

All your staff showed professionalism, kindness, compassion and they made this experience an easier one to endure. It is nice to know that there is a small community hospital that has so many great assets in its employ.

Thank you to all of you for the efforts and accommodations to make our stay easier.

Joe and Debra Forsythe

Santa Rosa

 

Gina Roberson honored as the Sonoma Valley Hospital Auxiliary’s  Volunteer of the Year for 2009-2010.

Twenty SVH Auxiliary volunteers along with the Human Resources department and a guest gathered for a potluck luncheon in the Sonoma Valley Hospital courtyard on Wednesday, July 7, to name Marie Davis their new president, and to view  a hand-stitched quilt to be raffled off in August, to honor Gina Roberson as Volunteer of the Year.

Gina, who worked for thirty-four years for PriceWaterhouseCoopers, retired to Sonoma eight years ago and shortly thereafter became a volunteer. When Gina joined the Sonoma Valley Hospital Auxiliary she served under Eva Telfer’s direction in Surgery Waiting.  Gina and Eva kept Surgery Waiting supplied with candies and treats, and made sure the room was decorated for every holiday.  When Eva became ill, Gina stepped in and managed Surgery Waiting for Eva to keep the traditions going.   Today, Gina is Chair of Surgery Waiting and works as a Customer Service representative in the hospital lobby helping visitors, patients and staff.  Gina is always dependable and ready to go the extra mile. She volunteers wherever she is needed with a positive attitude and a smile.

“Gina is a very sweet lady who is devoted to making the Hospital Surgery Waiting room pleasant and comfortable for everyone, including providing treats for hospital employees,” said former Auxiliary president Mary Smith. “Gina always volunteers to help out where ever she is needed in the hospital and she never has a bad word to say about anyone or anything.”

The quilt, made by Alice Freisen, will be on view in the hospital lobby on July 28 and raffled off in August. Raffle tickets will be available Aug.1. Tickets are priced at $3.00 for one and $5.00 for two.

The Auxiliary is a mainstay of Sonoma Valley Hospital volunteer help and donations. Last year, FY 2009-2010, the Auxiliary raised $34,840 for the hospital. “In my opinion, said Mary Smith, “hospital employees are worth every penny of it.”