North Bay Business Journal

Kaiser Permanente has earned accreditation for its Santa Rosa Medical Center Family Residency Program, which was developed to attract and retain more physicians to the region in lieu of national shortages.

Walt Mills, a family practice physician in Sonoma County for nearly three decades, was recently named the incoming president of the Sonoma County Medical Association.

Dr. Mills recently shared his thoughts on a number of topics with the Business Journal, from health care reform to the primary care physician shortage to the evolving local health care scene.

SANTA ROSA — The Family Medicine Residency Program at Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa announced its incoming class of 2015, selecting 12 medical school graduates out of 618 applicants — about half of the nation’s 1,200 plus applicants in family medicine.

With the Supreme Court ruling Thursday to uphold major tenets of the Affordable Care Act, some clarity is finally emerging for employers and providers, but the political battle over health care reform will likely continue.

Local health care providers and insurance experts said there is now much-needed clarity, at least for now, as employers and municipalities across the state attempt to adapt to ever-evolving regulations. Several providers praised the ruling.

Do you agree with the U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010? Share your thoughts.

SANTA ROSA — Kaiser Permanente’s recent announcement that it will launch a family residency program for Sonoma County reflects both local and national health care issues, as providers seek to attract and retain physicians in lieu of a heightened emphasis on expanding primary care capabilities to best serve the community.

The Northern California Center for Well Being last week held its annual benefit, Celebration of Dreams, where Sonoma County health care professionals and officials were honored for their efforts in health and wellness.

SANTA ROSA — Santa Rosa Community Health Centers received a federal grant of $850,000 that will enable it to establish a residency program for nurse practitioners, which could help the federally qualified health center address an anticipated shortage of primary care providers.

SANTA ROSA — The Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency, which pairs recently-minted doctors with Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa in conjunction with the University of California, San Francisco, announced its incoming class for 2014.

SANTA ROSA — Eight local physicians joined the board of the Sonoma County Medical Association.

SANTA ROSA – Southwest Community Health Center signed an agreement to purchase a 42,500-square-foot Fountaingrove area building late last week in a nearly 40 percent expansion of its capacity, its largest to date. “The need for a community health center of this magnitude is real, and that need keeps growing,” said Southwest Chief Executive Officer [...]

A federal judge has halted cuts to adult day health care programs for low-income disabled that were cut as part of the state’s response to its budget deficit.