Dear Sonoma Valley Community,
September is National Healthy Aging Month, and a reminder that staying healthy and active matters at every stage of life.
This month, Sonoma Valley Hospital is partnering with Vintage House to present Active Aging: Wellness, a series of community conversations led by local health experts. The programs will be held at Vintage House from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays, September 11, 18 and 25. Topics include A Healthy Gut; Every Minute Matters: A Community Conversation on Stroke Response; and Fall Prevention.
We hope you’ll join us for these conversations about staying healthy, active and independent as we age.
Medical Staff Credentialing
Approving the physicians and other care providers who serve our community is one of the Board’s most important oversight responsibilities. Beginning this month, Medical Staff Credentialing will become a standing item on the Board agenda. It was previously included as part of the Consent Calendar.
The Board reviewed and approved this month’s list of Medical Staff appointments, reappointments and credentialing changes.
Chief of Staff Biannual Report
Chief of Staff Dr. Paul Amara presented his biannual report, including an update on Sonoma Valley Hospital’s Medical Staff and patient Q-Reviews for Ambulatory Surgery, the Emergency Department and Inpatient Services.
Q-Reviews ask patients about wait times, courtesy, how clearly tests, treatments and medications were explained, and the amount of time their physician spent with them.
Scores remained high overall, with the Emergency Department finishing the second quarter above the national 90th-percentile benchmark.
General Obligation Bond Tax Rate
Chief Financial Officer Ben Armfield presented Resolution 391, establishing the Fiscal Year 2027 tax rate for the District’s General Obligation Bonds.
Hospital management and the Finance Committee recommended a rate of $13.96 per $100,000 of assessed value. This represents a reduction from the Fiscal Year 2026 rate of $18.50 per $100,000. The Board approved the resolution and the new tax rate.
Chief Executive Officer Report
Chief Executive Officer Kelley Kaiser reported that Sonoma Valley Hospital continues to perform strongly across operations, quality and financial performance. The Hospital began Fiscal Year 2027 with exceptional financial results, reflecting stronger-than-expected revenue and growing community use of Hospital services.
Kelley also provided an update on Assembly Bill 2311, which has passed the California Legislature and is awaiting action by the Governor. If signed, the legislation would allow eligible healthcare districts to employ physicians directly, giving hospitals such as ours another important tool to recruit and retain providers.
The Hospital continued its longstanding support of the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center’s Back-to-School Fair by providing 50 backpacks filled with essential school supplies. This annual event is a wonderful opportunity to connect with local families, share resources and help students begin the school year ready to learn.
As part of the Hospital’s ongoing focus on safety and preparedness, staff also completed two mock Code Blue exercises—one involving the transfer of a patient from MRI to the Emergency Department and another from the Medical-Surgical Unit to the Intensive Care Unit. These simulations help strengthen teamwork, communication and the Hospital’s ability to respond quickly during an emergency.
Chief Medical Officer Report
Chief Nursing Officer Michelle Corder presented the Chief Medical Officer Report on behalf of Dr. Patrick Okolo.
Sonoma Valley Hospital continues to make strong progress on the Corrective Action Plan developed following the 2026 CIHQ accreditation survey. Of the plan’s 33 measures, 30 had reportable data during the second quarter. Twenty-seven met or exceeded their targets, three remained below target and three were not yet due for reporting.
Patient experience scores also remained strong across the Hospital. Hand and Physical Therapy and Medical Imaging each received a score of 4.92 out of 5, while Outpatient Services received a score of 4.85. The Emergency Department held steady at 4.78 despite continued growth in patient volume. Inpatient Services declined modestly from 4.78 in the first quarter to 4.64 in the second quarter. The Quality team is reviewing patient comments and rounding information to identify opportunities for improvement.
Hospital volumes continue to grow across several important areas. The Operating Room completed 181 procedures in the most recent month, the highest monthly total since 2019. Gastroenterology and other newer services are also continuing to grow.
Emergency Department use remains strong, and the team continues working to improve patient flow as staffing and process initiatives develop. Inpatient volumes also remain above the Hospital’s historical average as we prepare for the coming respiratory season.
July Financial Report
Chief Financial Officer Ben Armfield reported that Fiscal Year 2027 began with continued positive financial performance.
In July, the Hospital generated an operating margin of approximately $315,000, or 4.1 percent. July marked the fifth consecutive month in which Sonoma Valley Hospital posted a positive operating margin.
This is particularly encouraging because Fiscal Year 2027 is the first budget in the Hospital’s history to include a positive operating margin. While it is still early in the fiscal year, July’s results provide a strong start and reinforce the importance of continuing to grow patient volumes and revenue while carefully managing expenses.
Quality Committee Update
Director Dan Kittleson, Chair of the Quality Committee, presented the committee’s second-quarter update.
The Hospital continued to address the CIHQ survey findings while keeping its focus on patient safety. Results were especially strong in Life Safety, Environment of Care, Infection Prevention, Pharmacy and Radiology. Work will continue on documentation, medication safety and workplace violence prevention.
Closing
As summer gives way to fall, I hope many of you will join us at Vintage House for the Active Aging: Wellness series and hear directly from local health experts about staying healthy and active.
On behalf of the Board, thank you to the physicians, nurses, employees, volunteers and community partners who help keep quality health care close to home.
Warm regards,
Wendy Lee-Myatt
Chair, Sonoma Valley Health Care District Board