North Bay Business Journal

2011 top stories: New hospital, tech advances define year of the economy

The national and local economy was on everyone’s mind in 2011. But as the Business Journal editorial staff set out to develop its Top Ten Stories of the Year, it quickly became clear that the North Bay was blessed with multiple economy-boosting projects and new commitments job creation.

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.

Q&A: Mike Purvis, Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa

Mike Purvis is the chief administrative officer for Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa, which will soon be relocated from the aging Chanate facility, the former county-run Community Hospital, to a brand new, $284 million medical campus next to the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts.

Mr. Purvis will be a panelist at the Business Journal’s health care conference on Nov. 30, where he will discuss the new hospital and how it will impact Sonoma County.

Sutter, UnitedHealthcare partner on Medicare plan

SANTA ROSA — Sutter Health and Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare have introduced a new Medicare Advantage plan from some 78,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Sonoma County, the two organizations announced this morning.

Sutter, county reject settlement offer in lawsuit over new hospital

SANTA ROSA — Sutter Health and the county of Sonoma have rejected a proposed settlement of a lawsuit filed by the North Sonoma County Healthcare District opposing Sutter’s $284 million hospital project north of Santa Rosa.

Redwood Regional adds Dr. Amy Shaw to oncology staff

SANTA ROSA – Redwood Regional Medical Group has added Dr. Amy Shaw, a long time family physician in Sonoma County, to head the practice’s new Primary Care Oncology and Survivorship Program.

Sutter wins court challenge to hospital project EIR

SANTA ROSA – Sutter Health can continue construction unabated on its $284 million hospital after a Sonoma County judge last week dismissed most of the challenges filed by opponents that centered on project’s environmental impact report.

Sides in Sutter hospital suit make cases to judge

SANTA ROSA – Sutter Health and the North Sonoma County Healthcare District recently squared off in front of a Sonoma County judge, each presenting its case as to why or why not Sutter’s forthcoming $284 million hospital north of Santa Rosa is in line with the California Environmental Quality Act and the county Health Care Access Agreement.

Next residency class chosen: 12 from 540 applicants

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.

Judge weighs arguments in Sutter hospital project lawsuit

SANTA ROSA — A Sonoma County judge today heard arguments in a lawsuit filed to stop construction of Sutter Health’s $284 million hospital next to the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts north of Santa Rosa. A ruling is expected within the next few months.

Sutter system looks at $700 million in savings

NORTH BAY — Sutter Health is looking to trim costs by $700 million across its expansive hospital system by 2014, a move that so far has unrealized impact across the North Bay but will require fiscal belt-buckling nonetheless.

Health Care Conference registration closes Friday

NORTH BAY — Registration for the Business Journal’s Health Care Conference will close Friday. The event will feature the top California official for the National Federation of Independent Business to discuss the impact of health care reform on small business in the keynote address on Nov. 18. To register, contact Linda Perkins at 707-521-5264 or events@busjrnl.com by Friday, Nov. 12, or go to www.NorthBayBusinessJournal.com.

Top small business expert to address health care conference

NORTH BAY — The top California official for the National Federation of Independent Business will discuss the impact of health care reform on small business in the keynote address for the Business Journal’s annual health care conference Nov. 18.
Following John Kabateck, executive director of NFIB/California, a panel of top North Bay hospital executives will discuss the impacts of reform along with hundreds of millions of dollars in hospital and other projects.
To register, contact Linda Perkins at 707-521-5264 or events@busjrnl.com by Friday, Nov. 12, or go to www.NorthBayBusinessJournal.com.

Health Care Conference registration closes Nov. 12

2010 Health Care Conference: What health care reform will mean to you and your business, as hospitals invest hundreds of millions in new facilities, programs
Thursday, November 18, 2010, Registration 7:30 a.m., program 8-11:30 a.m., Hyatt Vineyard Creek, Santa Rosa
To register or for more information, visit www.northbaybusinessjournal.com.

Health care district formally announces lawsuit to block new Sutter hospital

HEALDSBURG — The North Sonoma County Healthcare District tonight at its board meeting formally announced its lawsuit to stop development of Sutter Health’s proposed new hospital next to the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts.

Bollinger: Sutter suit pits public entities, raises specter of CEQA

Sonoma County taxpayers should be happy to know they can now witness one taxpayer-funded entity suing another taxpayer-funded entity.

Sutter poised to get approval of new hospital

SANTA ROSA – Nine years after its first proposal, Sutter Health is near the final go-ahead for a new hospital that will replace services at the aged Chanate facility.

Health Care: Petaluma Health Center breaks ground on $15.5 million facility

The Petaluma Health Center last week broke ground on an expansion that will double its patient volume and significantly increase services offered at the federally qualified health center.

Did Sutter single out Marin to take funds?

MARIN COUNTY — The Marin Healthcare District and many of its allies have accused Sutter Health of singling out Marin General Hospital for the transfer of tens millions of dollars out of the medical facility. But an examination of state data shows such transfers amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars are common for the Sacramento-based health giant and its affiliated hospitals in San Francisco and the North Bay.

Spotlight: Leaders in Human Resources

Human resources leaders selected from the North Bay’s 10 largest employers from each county and the region’s staffing companies. Professionals listed alphabetically.