North Bay Business Journal

Former Marin General chairman Heller cleared in Sutter suit

GREENBRAE — The judge arbitrating a lawsuit to recover more than $120 million transferred out of Marin General Hospital into the Sutter Health system has dropped former Marin General Hospital Corp. board Chairman Robert Heller from the case.

NorthBay HealthCare gets ‘heart attack hospital’ designation

NorthBay Medical Center has been designated by Solano County as the preferred hospital for heart attack patients, a designation that comes just two months after the 132-bed hospital became the county’s first level III trauma center.

Experts urge creating a culture of wellness

In order for wellness to be more than just a buzzword, employers need to take careful steps to adequately define what wellness means while promoting the concept as a partnership with employees that will engender an overall healthy environment. Employers should also expect to make a significant investment of both time and resources if they are to be successful. That was the prevailing message from a panel assembled for the North Bay Business Journal’s Health Care Conference, which discussed corporate wellness as a strategy in increasing employee productivity, reducing absenteeism and curbing ever-incresing health care costs, among other benefits.

Santa Rosa Community Health Centers new site to serve homeless

SANTA ROSA — The Santa Rosa Community Health Centers last week celebrated the opening of the Brookwood Health Center, its newest location that will provide primary care and mental health services for mostly homeless and uninsured and underinsured residents.

Petaluma Health Center: A welcoming new place for doctor and patient

PETALUMA — When the Petaluma Health Center opened the doors to its brand new, 52,000-square-foot location this June, an immediate impact was felt by both staff and patients working in and getting treatment at the federally qualified health center.

REACH Air merges with Oregon ambulance company

SANTA ROSA — REACH Air Medical Services and Cal-Ore Life Flight today announced they have merged, creating what they describe as a “comprehensive network of medical air and ground transportation in the Western United States.”

BioMarin gets FDA approval for Novato expansion

NOVATO — BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: BMRN) has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a manufacturing facility expansion in Novato that the drug makers says will support up to $1 billion in revenue for its growing enzyme replacement therapy portfolio.

BioMarin pays $81 million to complete buy-back of intellectual property

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: BMRN) today said it made an upfront payment of $81 million to complete the buy back of certain intellectual property from SA Pathology, a unit of the Central Adelaide Local Health Network in Australia.The transaction will generate between $10 to $15 million a year in cash, with no incremental operating costs, according to Jean-Jaques Bienaime, chief executive officer of BioMarin.

Tegal invests in medical device developer

PETALUMA — Tegal Corporation (Nasdaq: TGAL) today announced it made a $300,000 strategic investment in NanoVibronix Inc., which develops medical devices and products that use its proprietary therapeutic ultrasound technology.

North Bay groups among recipients of Kaiser grants

As part of an investment of more than $5.1 million by Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California Community Benefit, four local organizations received funding to increase access to chronic disease management, enhance health screenings, and improve prevention of heart disease and stroke.

Healthiest Companies in the North Bay in 2011

Welcome to the Business Journal’s profiles of 14 winners of the inaugural Healthiest Company Recognition Awards. Profiles of the organization’s programs start here and appear in alphabetical order by company. The companies will be honored at the Journal’s annual Health Care Conference Nov. 30, 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek.

Winner profiles inside: Agilent Technologies, Santa Rosa; Bank of Marin, Novato; Edgewood Partners Insurance Center (EPIC), Petaluma; GCX, Petaluma; JDSU, Santa Rosa; Kaiser Permanente Marin–Sonoma; LEMO USA, Rohnert Park; Queen of the Valley Medical Center, Napa; Redwood Regional Medical Group, Santa Rosa; Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park Oral Surgery; St. Joseph Health System–Sonoma County; TLCD Architecture, Santa Rosa; Trinchero Family Estates, Napa; and W. Bradley Electric, Novato.

Agilent Technologies: Ultimate Frisbee or walking a trail

SANTA ROSA – Agilent Technologies’ Electronic Measurement Group headquarters on Fountaingrove Parkway is a global showcase for employee well-being. During the last few years the company has poured $50 million into plant upgrades with workers’ health a primary focus.

2012 Insurance Outlook: EPIC Insurance

Questions for Bill Merget and Victor McKnight, Principals, EPIC Insurance: What do you see as the trends in business insurance for 2012? What trends do you see in employee benefits for 2012, in cost and in design? What issues are clients asking about most often and what are you telling them?

W. Bradley Electric: Measurable results in employee health

NOVATO – The average tenure of employees at W. Bradley Electric Inc., (WBE) is 8.5 years. The company goes to great lengths to show its appreciation for their loyalty and hard work by providing a variety of creative wellness opportunities enabling them to grow physically, mentally and personally.

Trinchero Family Estates: Preventative care as a core value

ST. HELENA – Trinchero Family Estates is on the leading edge among North Bay wineries when it comes to developing and implementing successful wellness strategies. The company’s health focus has been part of its culture since 2003 when they partnered with Weight Watchers for an on-site program. The program continued to expand and Tony Torres, [...]

TLCD Architecture: ‘Fit Force’ sets a healthy tone

 SANTA ROSA – At TLCD Architecture, company leaders encourage employees to embrace social responsibility with genuine care for people, community and sustainable principles. This commitment is reflected in a work environment that supports healthy choices in food, exercise, flexible hours and a sense of wellness — principles that carry over into a variety of practical [...]

Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park Oral Surgery: Healthy attitudes

The leadership at Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park Oral Surgery initially began its wellness plan with an often-cited goal by employers: to reduce employee absenteeism. But an even better outcome emerged, they said — productivity among its 20 employees increased significantly.

Bank of Marin: ‘Investing … in wellness is simply saying it cares’

Bank Marin: “By investing in meaningful health benefits and wellness programs the bank is simply saying that it cares about its people.”

LEMO USA: Measured steps and a ‘Sonic Boom’

ROHNERT PARK – LEMO USA, Inc. goes beyond offering its workers programs designed to improve their health, it also tracks their results and provides vital feedback necessary to reinforce continued participation.

Kaiser Permanente: ‘Live Well Be Well’ increases participation

Kaiser Permanente, the largest private sector employer in Marin and Sonoma counties with over 4,200 employees between the two, has a simple, straight forward to campaign to its patients: Thrive. Its wellness effort toward employees is similarly simple — Live Well Be Well — and it has a 75 percent participation rate among its vast number of employees and physicians.