| What's New
News from Healdsburg District Hospital
Tuesday, April 2, 2013 New CEO Appointed by North Sonoma County Healthcare District / Healdsburg District Hospital
E.J. Neil, Chair of the District Board of Directors, said, “Ms. Schmid has the full trust and confidence of the Board to lead the district as we implement changes brought on by the Affordable Care Act and the introduction of an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system.” In accepting the appointment, Ms. Schmid said, “I look forward to relocating to the district and having the opportunity to help lead Healdsburg District Hospital in the ongoing promotion of good health in the communities we serve.” Schmid has previously led two former hospitals in EMR implementation. Her experience with Intermountain Healthcare in electronic health records will help guide HDH as they convert to an electronic system. Ms. Schmid received her Bachelor of Science, followed by a Masters of Art in Health Administration at Brigham Young University. She also holds a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Utah. Mr. Neil noted the board’s appreciation for George Protos’ seven years of service, both as head of Human Resources, and for serving as Interim CEO during the search period. North Sonoma County Healthcare District Appoints New Board Member
Campbell has over 25 years of experience as a healthcare consultant. In her 22 years with Accenture, she was involved in a number of information systems projects. Her clients included Sutter Health, Kaiser Permanente, Stanford University Hospital, Marin General Hospital and UCSF, among others. Campbell then spent three years as a member of Kaiser’s eight-region Electronic Medical Record (EMR) implementation project. Over the years, Campbell has served on various healthcare boards in Marin County and San Francisco, most recently serving on the boards of St. Francis Memorial Hospital and Dignity Health, both in San Francisco. Campbell stated, “I'm glad to be joining the North Sonoma County Healthcare District Board. The District, and the healthcare industry in general, are facing real challenges right now and I look forward to helping the District face them. I've worked in the healthcare industry for most of my career, and it's important to me to give back to my community in an area where I can really contribute.” Campbell is also a member of HDH's Care Transformation Steering Committee overseeing the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) implementation at the Hospital. EMR will give caregivers much more timely and comprehensive access to their patients' information as well as qualify the Hospital for additional federal funding. Campbell stated, "It's one of the most important initiatives HDH currently has underway. Its success is critical not only for our patients and the care they receive, but for the ongoing financial viability of the Hospital." A six-year Healdsburg resident, Sue Campbell and her husband, John McKinney, own Campbell McKinney Vineyards, which produces viognier, syrah and grenache grapes. McKinney serves on the board of Alliance Medical Center. Campbell is the president-elect of the Healdsburg branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW), an organization dedicated to advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Campbell will meet regularly with her fellow NSCHD board members to oversee the governance of the District and the Hospital. Healdsburg District Hospital serves as a first choice inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care facility for the 60,000 residents of Healdsburg, Windsor, Geyserville, Cloverdale, and the surrounding areas. As the leadership of a nonprofit District Hospital, its Board of Directors is committed to delivering the best medical and surgical services possible to all of its patients.
Thursday, December 27, 2012 INTERIM CEO APPOINTED BY NORTH SONOMA COUNTY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT / HEALDSBURG DISTRICT HOSPITAL Today, the Board of Directors of the North Sonoma County Healthcare District announced the appointment of George Protos as interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective January 1, 2013. Mr. Protos, currently the District’s head of Human Resources, will serve as CEO on an interim basis until the Board completes its selection of a regular long-term CEO, a hire anticipated to occur within the next six to eight weeks. E.J. Neil, Chair of the District Board of Directors, said “Mr. Protos has the full trust and confidence of the Board to provide continuity and leadership during this transitional period.” Mr. Protos holds a Bachelor degree from Tulane University in New Orleans and a Masters degree from UCLA. He studied law and history at the University of Virginia and completed the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Program in Organizational Change. Mr. Protos is a Vietnam-era Veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1971 to 1975. Prior to joining Healdsburg District Hospital in 2005, his career spanned high technology, financial services and healthcare areas. In accepting the appointment, Mr. Protos said, “I appreciate the opportunity to serve the people of the District and rely on the cooperation and support of the hospital’s medical staff, employees, volunteers and friends. Our hospital has served the communities of northern Sonoma County for over a century and I pledge all my time and talent to providing a smooth transition to the next long-term CEO.” Mr. Neil reiterated the Board’s appreciation for the many accomplishments of former CEO Evan Rayner during his six and a half year tenure. He said, “Mr. Rayner is leaving the District with our deep gratitude.” Mr. Neil reported that the ad hoc CEO Search Committee of the Board has conducted 18 initial interviews of the 70 applications received so far and is currently holding on-site interviews with the most promising candidates. The Board expects to have someone in place by the end of February. Those interested in more information regarding the search may contact Marie Giammona at (707) 431-6502 or email: MGiammona@NSCHD.org
Healthgrades National Study Designates HDH Orthopedics a 5-Star Rating for Hip Fracture Care Healdsburg, CA, October 23, 2012–
The findings are part of the American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2013: Healthgrades Report to the Nation, which evaluates the performance of hospitals nationwide across nearly 30 of the most common health conditions and treatment procedures. Healthgrades independently measures hospitals based on data that hospitals submit to the federal government. No hospital can opt in or out of the analysis, and no hospital pays to be measured. Mortality and complication rates are risk adjusted, which takes into account each hospital’s unique population. Healthgrades bases its objective measures solely on clinical performance. A wide variation in quality exists among American hospitals according to the Healthgrades report. Data shows that 61% of patients are less likely to experience a major in-hospital complication when treated at 5-star hospitals compared to 1-star hospitals across a range of common procedures, such as total knee replacement, gall bladder, and spine surgeries. Evan Rayner, HDH’s Chief Executive Officer, states, “We are proud of this team achievement and of continuing a tradition of excellence in orthopedics.” Orthopedic Surgeon and Medical Director of HDH’s Orthopedic Center of Excellence, John Tomasin, MD, says, “It’s an honor to be part of such an outstanding, nationally recognized award and a true testament to great teamwork and superior results at Healdsburg District Hospital.” HDH’s comprehensive, evidence-based Orthopedic Center of Excellence merits the 5-star rating from Healthgrades. In keeping with its century-long tradition of providing exceptional health care, the hospital also proudly operates the Wetzel Family Emergency Department, where the average wait time to see a physician is 20 minutes or less. Northern California Wound Care at HDH offers the absolute latest in wound care medicine, including the only hyperbaric oxygen chambers in Sonoma County. HDH has received additional Healthgrades awards in recent years for its quality health services, including 5-star ratings in Joint Replacement for 4 years in a row, 5-star ratings in Total Knee Replacement for 5 years in a row, Best Hospital in Sonoma County for Joint Replacement in 2011, as well as 5-star rating in Treatment of Bowel Obstruction for 2012. Third-party organization Avatar International has also formally recognized HDH with the distinguished Exceeding Patient Expectations award for5 years in a row. The American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2013: Healthgrades Report to the Nation, including the complete study methodology, can be found online at www.Healthgrades.com/quality.
Healdsburg District Hospital and its CEO, Evan Rayner, announced the departure of Mr. Rayner effective at the end of his current employment contract on December 31, 2012. Mr. Rayner expressed his intention not to renew the contract and characterized his departure as amicable. Click here to view press release.
Healdsburg District Hospital employees are proud participants of Sonoma County’s iWalk Program. iWalk Sonoma challenges its participants to commit to walking and/or exercising for 150 minutes each week. Doing so helps people incorporate exercise into their everyday lifestyles, and increases overall health and well-being. Bonnie Griffen’s enthusiasm for walking and the iWalk challenge inspires HDH employees to get out there and exercise. On top of walking to and from the bus stop on Healdsburg Avenue to the hospital, Bonnie goes on an hour-long stroll everyday. Over the 9 week iWalk challenge, Bonnie’s walking time totaled an astounding 4855 minutes (over 80 hours of walking)! This total is over 3 times the 150 minute weekly challenge. Bonnie has worked for HDH for over 20 years, and at 81 years old, Bonnie’s youthful energy and wit are proof that exercise helps you keep sharp. For more information about iWalk and exercise programs, check out
“I thank Healdsburg District Hospital every day for granting me more time with my wonderful husband.” ~ Debbie Peters Don Peters and his wife, Debbie, recently celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary. On January 12th, 2012, Don suffered a heart attack while volunteering his time at his church in Healdsburg. Within minutes, Healdsburg District Hospital’s (HDH) Emergency Department physicians began treatment that immediately saved Don’s life. Debbie Peters explains her reaction to her husband’s heart attack, “My world was turned upside down in the many days Don was in a coma, during which the doctor's and nurse's attentive care was nothing short of miraculous. Thank God, the nearest hospital was HDH. The doctors didn’t give up on Don. If not for HDH’s expert ED doctors, the quick-response medical team, and the Intensive Care team, my husband would not be here with me today. The whole team’s heroic efforts paid off and Don pulled through! When I first heard Don’s voice again, tears of joy streamed down my face.” Don recalls a surreal conversation after waking up. “My doctor explained to me the type of heart attack I had is gloomily referred to as the ‘widow maker’ — as only about 10% of people survive it. I’m truly blessed to have arrived at HDH, where the quality of care enabled me to overcome the odds and make a full recovery.” Wetzel Family Emergency Department • State-of-the-art Facility, Open 24/7 and Close to Home
Peter N. Bretan, Jr., MD, FACS, Urology, Joins Healdsburg District Hospital Medical Staff
With an academic career spanning 31 years, Dr. Bretan is a past UCSF Clinical Faculty in Surgery and Urology, as well as Director of Cleveland Clinic and UCLA’s Renal Transplant Programs. A Professor of Urology at UC Berkeley, he continues to instruct premed and medical students. In 2011, the Cal Alumni Association granted Dr. Bretan the Excellence in Service Award for his work. Dr. Bretan has published over 200 scientific articles covering both clinical and original research subjects, which have been the basis of multiple academic awards. He currently serves as the President of the Marin Medical Society. He speaks internationally as an expert in kidney transplantation, and prostate and bladder diseases. With these rich and varied experiences, Dr. Bretan believes that the patient/doctor relationship is sacrosanct and should be the basic emphasis for any healthcare system to remain economically rational, accessible and sustainable. He is available 24/7 for urgent consultations, as well as outpatient urologic elective evaluations.
A Healdsburg resident, Anderson has over 32 years of diverse executive experience assisting companies in the industry of newspaper publishing and media in which he worked to improve profitability, productivity, and operational efficiency. With an accounting background, Gary’s leadership has yielded remarkable results for the San Francisco Chronicle, The Detroit Newspaper, and The Detroit News in the past. In January of 2011, Anderson retired from his position as the Executive Vice President for the San Francisco Chronicle, where his diligent leadership led the organization out of a daunting budget crisis. Throughout last year, the Chronicle frequently called upon Anderson’s insight and assistance.
The Healdsburg Tribune picked up on Dr. Rose’s exciting breakthrough and printed a full-length story on February 14th, 2012. Read the full story...
Senior Live Well Event “Living with Arthritus”, presented by John D. Tomasin, MD, Orthopedic
Surgeon. Also, Stacy Powell, PT, DPT, Director of Therapy Services at HDH will give a short presentation on the benefits of physical therapy.
Click here for more details
New CT Scanner at HDH
Healdsburg District Hospital has an epicenter of activity where staff, patients and their families regularly convene: the hospital cafeteria. Now newly remodeled, the cafeteria sports interior upgrades designed to improve the dining experience, not only in appearance but in comfort and usability. Click here to read more about the HDH Cafeteria makeover
Exceeding Expectations: More Than Just Our Tagline
Congressman Mike Thompson was impressed with the HDH philosophy that each patient deserves a specialized selection of treatment options to fit their needs and achieve the best possible health outcomes. I think the Congressman and everyone in the area agrees that Northern California Wound Care serves a vital role in many unique health emergency cases in the region.
|
The Board of Directors of the North Sonoma County Healthcare District has announced the appointment of Nancy Schmid as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective May 1, 2013. Ms. Schmid is currently the CEO of Kingfisher Regional Hospital, Oklahoma and will relocate to Sonoma County with her family. 
Healdsburg District Hospital (HDH) recently announced Sue Campbell has joined the North Sonoma County Healthcare District (NSCHD) Board of Directors. Campbell replaces Kurt Hahn, who retired in January, after 15 years of service. Campbell will serve on the board until the next General Election in 2014. 
Healdsburg District Hospital’s (HDH) Orthopedic Center of Excellence today received another 5-star designation for Hip Fracture Treatment from Healthgrades, the leading provider of information to help consumers make informed decisions when selecting physicians or hospitals. The Healthgrades study looks at patient outcomes in approximately 4,500 hospitals, and finds HDH’s Orthopedic Center among the best for hip fracture treatment.
EVAN RAYNER TO DEPART NORTH SONOMA COUNTY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT
Healdsburg District Hospital (HDH) is proud to announce the addition of Peter N. Bretan, Jr., MD, FACS, to its medical staff. Dr. Bretan is a Board Certified Urologist and Professor of Urology, with special training in transplantation and laparoscopic oncologic surgery. Dr. Bretan is dedicated to providing excellent urologic services to patients in Healdsburg County and the surrounding area, and he will now see patients regularly at the HDH Specialty Clinic, 1310 Prentice Avenue, Suite D, next to the HDH hospital starting April 13, 2012.
Healdsburg District Hospital recently announced that Gary Anderson has joined North Sonoma County Healthcare District’s (NSCHD) Board of Directors. Anderson will fill Herbert F. Polesky’s role as Treasurer, after Polesky’s unfortunate passing in late 2011. Anderson will serve on the board until the end of 2012, when he will then be up for re-election.
Healdsburg District Hospital's Director of Wound Care, Dan Rose, MD, is always looking how to improve healthcare. Inspired by his daughter-in-law, Yoshiko Rose, and Ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of floral arrangement, Dr. Rose discovered a new technique for performing skin-grafts that has revolutionized this essential aspect of modern wound care. While studying Yoshiko’s intricate floral arrangements one day, Dr. Rose came up with a fascinating solution to drastically reduce the cost of skin-grafts without losing the procedure’s effectiveness in healing the injured.
Healdsburg District Hospital is Among Top 10% of Hospitals Nationwide for Joint Replacement Care
Dan Rose, MD, Director of Northern California Wound Care recently met with Congressman, Mike Thompson and toured the facility. Northern California Wound Care regularly receives patients who have exhausted all available options for resolving their problem wounds. 
HDH Newsletter