Dear Sonoma Valley Community,
This month, we celebrate two important healthcare observances that honor the people at the heart of patient care. National Nurses Week, celebrated May 6 through May 12, honors “The Power of Nurses,” while National Hospital Week, celebrated May 10 through May 16, highlights this year’s theme, “Healing Happens Here.”
As these observances are celebrated across the country, we also want to recognize the physicians, nurses, staff, volunteers, and healthcare teams whose dedication supports Sonoma Valley Hospital and our community every day.
The Board welcomes continued community participation in our meetings, both in person and via Zoom. During the meeting, Sonoma Valley Community Communications Executive Director Bob Taylor shared that a Community Media Forum will be held on May 14 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Veterans Building to discuss KSVY’s strategic plan and future direction.
Consent Calendar and Board Committee Work
This month, the Board approved an extensive list of committee minutes, policies and procedures, medical staff credentials, and bylaws. Collectively, these Consent Calendar items reflect the ongoing work of the Sonoma Valley Health Care District Board Committees, including Finance & Audit, Quality, Governance, the Chief Medical Officer, and the Medical Executive Committee.
Each Board Committee includes volunteer members from our community who contribute their time, expertise, and leadership in support of the hospital and District. The Board extends its appreciation to all committee members for their continued service.
Chief of Staff Report
Chief of Staff Dr. Amara presented an update on the Medical Staff and current physician recruitment efforts.
Dr. Amara reported that Sonoma Valley Hospital currently has 143 Medical Staff members, including 41 active medical staff, nine new medical staff, and four recently retired physicians. He also noted that the hospital continues to address key Medical Staff gaps and recruitment needs, including gastroenterology services, where recruitment efforts are progressing.
Dr. Amara also shared continued concern regarding the shortage of primary care services in Sonoma Valley, noting that many community members continue to travel outside the area to Napa, Marin and Petaluma for care.
In closing, Dr. Amara acknowledged and thanked the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation and donors for supporting the purchase and installation of the new Stryker Operating Room Integration System.
Finance Committee Appointment
Finance Committee Chair Ed Case presented Dave Pier as a new member of the Finance Committee. Dave currently serves as Executive Director of the Larry L. Hillblom Foundation and previously served as Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation for nine years, as well as CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley for eight years.
The Board recognized Dave’s longstanding service and commitment to the Sonoma community and approved his appointment to the Finance Committee.
Chief Executive Officer Report
Chief Executive Officer Kelley Kaiser reported that the hospital remains operationally stable while continuing to respond to changes across the healthcare environment. Over the past month, the hospital has seen steady operational performance in core areas, continued progress on strategic priorities, and opportunities for ongoing improvement.
Kelley also reported that the hospital continues to evaluate the anticipated impact of H.R. 1, which is expected to significantly affect Medi-Cal financing and eligibility for district hospitals over the coming years. Hospital leadership continues to monitor the potential impacts on reimbursement, uncompensated care, administrative requirements, and emergency and safety net services.
At the same time, the hospital is supporting AB 2311, legislation that would authorize healthcare districts to directly employ physicians. Kelley noted that this legislation could strengthen the hospital’s ability to recruit and retain providers in an increasingly competitive environment.
Kelley also provided an update on the recent CIHQ survey. Surveyors were onsite April 21 through April 23, and the hospital received its official report on April 29. The survey resulted in no Condition Level deficiencies and only Standard Level deficiencies requiring corrective action plans. Kelley expressed appreciation for the hospital team and their strong performance throughout the survey process.
Kelley also reported that Dr. Patrick Okolo officially began his clinical gastroenterology practice on April 28 and will transition to a 50/50 split between his Chief Medical Officer responsibilities and clinical practice. Select GI procedures that previously required travel to UCSF are now being performed locally, expanding access to care within Sonoma Valley. This expansion improves access to gastroenterology care locally and allows more patients to receive care close to home.
In addition, Kelley reported that after careful evaluation, the hospital has decided to discontinue accepting new Workers’ Compensation cases effective June 15, with July 17 serving as the final date for follow up care. The Occupational Health clinic will continue to provide employer services, including new hire physicals. Employers, Workers’ Compensation insurance carriers and adjusters, and patients have been notified, including a list of Workers’ Compensation clinics in the area.
Chief Medical Officer Report
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrick Okolo reported that Sonoma Valley Hospital continues to demonstrate strong clinical performance across core inpatient quality measures.
Dr. Okolo shared that stroke care and venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis, which focuses on preventing dangerous blood clots in hospitalized patients, continue to perform at or near 100 percent compliance, reflecting strong adherence to evidence based care pathways.
He also reported that focused improvement efforts continue in several areas, including malnutrition screening, opioid safety, and harm metric reporting. Work is underway to strengthen screening protocols, improve prescribing consistency through EMR decision support tools, and ensure documentation accurately reflects patient outcomes and quality performance.
Dr. Okolo also presented the Infection Prevention Annual Report for 2025. He reported that six reportable conditions were managed in accordance with Department of Health requirements and that infection prevention efforts continue to perform well overall. Environmental rounds identified several opportunities for improvement related to storage, expired supplies, and facility maintenance, which have been referred to Environmental Services and Facilities leadership for corrective action.
Chief Financial Officer Report
Chief Financial Officer Ben Armfield reported that March 2026 was one of the strongest financial months in the hospital’s history, driven by broad growth across both inpatient and outpatient services.
The hospital posted an operating margin of approximately $1.1 million, significantly exceeding the budgeted $112,000. Operating EBDA totaled approximately $1.47 million, nearly three times the budgeted level.
Ben reported that March’s performance reflects strong operating activity across multiple service lines and meaningful progress in the hospital’s financial trajectory. Through the first three quarters of the fiscal year, year to date operating performance has returned to approximately break-even, with a modest positive operating margin.
Women’s Health Symposium
The Board also recognized the success of the 6th Annual Women’s Health Symposium, held in partnership with UCSF. More than 350 community members attended this year’s symposium, which focused on the theme “Your Brain, Heart and Hormones.”
The Board expressed appreciation to the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation and the Women’s Health Symposium Committee for their continued commitment to advancing women’s health in Sonoma Valley.
Closing
As we recognize National Nurses Week, National Hospital Week, and the continued success of programs such as the Women’s Health Symposium, we are reminded that healthcare in Sonoma Valley is strengthened by the people who care for our community every day. From our physicians, nurses, staff, and volunteers to our community partners and supporters, these efforts continue to make a meaningful impact throughout Sonoma Valley.
The Board also congratulates Marylou Ehret, Director of Emergency Services, who was recently recognized with the North Bay Business Journal Influential Women Award, honoring leaders who make a meaningful impact through their work and leadership. We are grateful for Marylou’s contributions and for the many individuals who help make Sonoma Valley Hospital such an important part of our community.
Warm regards,
Wendy Lee Myatt
Chair, Sonoma Valley Health Care District Board