Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

CA Attorney General announces settlement agreement with Rite Aid Corporation to continue providing pharmacy services statewide

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Company agrees to conditions resolving competitive impacts related to changes in ownership involving retail pharmacy outlets

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced a settlement with Rite Aid Corporation (Rite Aid) operating as an injunction to enable him to review changes of ownership involving their retail pharmacy outlets statewide. Additionally, the settlement includes injunctive conditions that resolve competition-related concerns to ensure remaining Rite Aid pharmacies provide necessary medication and healthcare services to Californians, specifically those who may rely on Medi-Cal and Medicare, and protect workers at stores that are sold or closed. Today’s settlement reflects the Attorney General’s efforts to prevent the continued growth of pharmacy deserts, which disproportionately impact low-income individuals, the elderly, and people of color, all of whom are also patients of Rite Aid. The settlement was reached under Assembly Bill (AB) 853.

“Pharmacies are often the most accessible healthcare providers, offering vital services for the well-being of individuals and families. Without them in our communities, Californians could face significant barriers in managing chronic conditions, receiving timely medications, and accessing preventative care,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today, with AB 853 and conditions set by my office, Californians who rely on Rite Aid pharmacies can continue accessing their medications and essential healthcare services they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives.”

Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and began closing nearly 550 stores nationwide since October 2023. California experienced the closure of more than 100 stores statewide; however, approximately 71% of all stores in California have remained open throughout the bankruptcy and with one exception in San Diego, there were two or more competitive alternatives close by for the closed stores. This June, Rite Aid’s bankruptcy restructuring plan was approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, which turns over control of the company to a group of its lenders.

Under the settlement and AB 853, Rite Aid agrees to the following conditions for the next five years:

  • Use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the remaining Rite Aid stores, as well as all required licenses.
  • Provide 90-day notice of sale or closure of remaining Rite Aid stores.
  • Continue participation in Medi-Cal and Medicare if commercially reasonable.
  • Provide financial assistance to patients if commercially reasonable to do so.
  • Continue free delivery services to patients who were receiving these services from a closed store in San Diego.
  • Ensure compliance with state staffing levels.
  • Maintain hiring list for all employees from stores that close going forward for preferential hiring at other Rite-Aid stores.
  • Use commercially reasonable efforts to pay retirement contributions if collective bargaining agreements require such payments.
  • Use commercially reasonable efforts to abstain from contesting unemployment for individuals who are laid off as a result of the sale or closure of Rite Aid stores if no nearby Rite Aid store offers employment.
  • Comply with nondiscrimination rules in the provision of healthcare services and to commercially reasonable efforts to provide financial assistance to patients.

The California Department of Justice’s Healthcare Rights and Access Section (HRA) works proactively to increase and protect the affordability, accessibility, and quality of healthcare in California. HRA’s attorneys monitor and contribute to various areas of the Attorney General’s healthcare work, including nonprofit healthcare transactions; consumer rights; anticompetitive consolidation in the healthcare market; anticompetitive drug pricing; privacy issues; civil rights, such as reproductive rights and LGBTQ healthcare-related rights; and public health work on tobacco, e-cigarettes, and other products.

A copy of the settlement can be found here.

Kaiser Permanente’s Contra Costa hospitals recognized for providing high-quality care for heart, stroke patients

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Photo: Kaiser Permanente

Antioch, Richmond and Walnut Creek locations among 20 to receive American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®– Heart Failure and Stroke Gold Plus awards

KP clinicians and staff work together to deliver excellent cardiac and stroke care using evidence-based treatment protocols rooted in high-quality scientific research

By Kerri Leedy, Media and Public Relations Manager, Kaiser Permanente

OAKLAND, Calif. – Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are being recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) for following nationally recognized, research-based guidelines when diagnosing and treating heart failure and stroke patients, leading to more lives saved.

The following Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals have received both the AHA Get With The Guidelines®– Heart Failure and the Get With The Guidelines®– Stroke Gold Plus awards: Antioch, Richmond, Walnut Creek, Fremont, Fresno, Modesto, Oakland, Redwood City, Roseville, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, San Rafael, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, South Sacramento, South San Francisco, Vacaville and Vallejo. Kaiser Permanente Manteca received the Get With The Guidelines®– Stroke Silver Plus award.

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke or heart attack, and heart disease and stroke are the leading and fifth-leading causes of death in the country, respectively. This national recognition from the AHA reflects Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s commitment to providing high-quality heart and stroke care, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times, and fewer hospital readmissions.

“This recognition is a tribute to our physicians, cardiac specialists, and care teams, who are dedicated to delivering high-quality, comprehensive cardiac care and treatment to their patients,” said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “As a result, we are widely recognized for consistently delivering nation-leading clinical outcomes that enable our members and patients to live healthier and longer lives.”

Kaiser Permanente Northern California cardiac care specialists treat a broad range of heart conditions, frequently performing life-saving procedures.​ Using a team-based approach to care, Kaiser Permanente’s connected system enables our cardiologists to share knowledge across locations and specialties. In our communities, Kaiser Permanente members are 33% less likely to experience premature death due to heart disease, according to a 2022 research study.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California is also a leader in stroke care, and our integrated model of care supports close affiliation between our stroke care clinicians and cardiac researchers and specialists.

“The comprehensive cardiac and stroke care and support we provide is leading to better health outcomes for our members and patients,” said Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “This recognition shows how we use our integrated care model to make sure patients get the care they need so they can recover faster, be healthier, and live longer.”

The Get With The Guidelines®– Heart Failure award is earned by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and aggressive risk-reduction therapies. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their heart failure and overall health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

The Get With The Guidelines®– Stroke award is earned by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve nearly 12.6 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.

About Get With The Guidelines®

Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 12 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

CCHealth, Contra Costa College offer SPIRIT course for recovery training

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Behavioral Health Service Provider Individualized Recovery Intensive Training for young adults with mental health conditions, substance abuse disorder, or both, and parents

Application deadline: October 4, 2024

SPIRIT is a 9-unit college course taught in collaboration with Contra Costa College from January – May on Monday’s and Wednesday’s and June – July on Mondays (in person) with 10 hours a week internship equaling 60 hours. The course teaches students how to develop core skills to empower themselves by attaining and maintaining recovery and resiliency through self-awareness and peer/family support, while learning to assist others in doing the same. The completion of this class leads to a Certificate.

This program is intended for individuals who fit at least one of the following criteria:

  • A person who has self-identified as having lived experience of recovery from a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or
  • A transition-age youth or young adult 18 – 26 who has self-identified as having lived experience of recovery from a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or
  • A person with lived experience as a self-identified family member of an adult experiencing a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or
  • A person who is parenting or has parented a child or adult experiencing a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or both. This person may be a birth parent, adoptive parent, or family member standing in for an absent

Goals

  1. To become more empowered, explore potential and help others learn resiliency and empowerment skills.
  2. To gain an understanding of the importance of peer and family support as an integral part of the recovery and resiliency journey, as well as to the overall behavioral health system of
  3. To gain a working understanding of Contra Costa Behavioral Health’s system of care which includes, Mental Health Services, Housing and Homeless Services, Alcohol and Other Drug Services, and Health Services broadly, and recovery/resiliency-oriented techniques and
  4. To identify, develop and sustain your personal support system, develop and use a personal Wellness Recovery Action Plan and to help others to incorporate these skills into their personal wellness process.
  5. To become more aware of community resources which aid peers and their families, including young adults and children in living successfully within the larger
  6. To explore career options that will help you develop the skills enabling you to find meaningful activity and to learn skills and participate in internship training in the behavioral health

The Behavioral Health Service Provider Individualized Recovery Intensive Training (SPIRIT) includes two components; the comprehensive classroom training and support program, followed by the individualized Work-Study placement. This program is a collaboration between Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services (CCBHS), Office for Peer and Family Empowerment, and Contra Costa College (CCC).

Application Deadline and Mailing Information

Application Process: This APPLICATION is due by October 4, 2024

Please submit your completed application to:

Attention SPIRIT

Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services

Office for Peer and Family Empowerment

1340 Arnold Drive Suite 200, Martinez, CA 94553

Fax (925) 957-5156

For further information about the SPIRIT Training or application, please contact: Bianca Connor at: Bianca.Connor@cchealth.org  (925) 957-5141 or (925) 839-0669 Victoria Fairchild at: Victoria.Fairchild@cchealth.org (925) 957-5143 or (925) 723‑2729.

Training Components

  1. Intensive Training (SPIRIT I and II): The classroom training takes place during the Spring 2025 college semester (starting in January 2025) in partnership with Contra Costa College. It consists of two separate 3 unit college classes (6 units / 93 hours total), SPIRIT I and SPIRIT Students take SPIRIT I for the first half of the semester, and then SPIRIT II during the second half of the semester. Students may not participate in SPIRIT II without successful completion of SPIRIT I.
  2. Work-Study/Summer Internship (SPIRIT III): The work study portion of SPIRIT takes place during the summer 2025 college semester (3 units / 18 hours total), and includes a six-week, 60-hour internship at a human service agency with once-a-week classroom instruction. Students must successfully complete both SPIRIT I and II to participate in SPIRIT III. Students receive 3 units of college credits for successfully completing SPIRIT III (a total of 9 units / 111 hours of class time and 60 hours of internship.
  • Allowance: All students will be eligible for an allowance to assist with transportation and other expenses needed to complete the training.

Download the application form, here – SPIRIT Application 2025.

Contra Costa health officer recommends indoor masking again to reduce risk of rising COVID-19 infection

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“Face masks are an effective tool to reduce the spread of the virus” – Dr. Ori Tzvieli

“Wearing a well-fitting mask, such as an N95 or KN95 respirator, is a healthy choice indoors, particularly in public spaces or if around people with whom you do not live.” – Contra Costa Health

By Contra Costa Health

With evidence of increased COVID-19 infections throughout the Bay Area, Contra Costa Health (CCH) recommends masking in crowded indoor settings, particularly for those at high risk of serious illness if infected.

This recommendation is not a health order. It aligns with existing state requirements and recent advice issued in neighboring counties.

A particularly infectious strain of COVID-19, FLiRT, is currently spreading throughout the western U.S., and drives the current surge. Wastewater sampling from the county shows a steady increase in the presence of the virus.

From May 9 to July 9, for example, state lab testing of wastewater samples from the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District showed that concentrations of COVID-19 more than quadrupled. Recently, wastewater concentration has plateaued but still remain high.

Health agencies across the Bay Area jointly lifted most of their requirements and orders to mask indoors in February 2022, but strongly recommended use of masking, particularly for those who are high risk for serious illness, as a prevention measure whenever COVID-19 case rates grew high.

“Face masks are an effective tool to reduce the spread of the virus, particularly for those who are at risk for serious illness when there is evidence of elevated COVID-19 activity in the community,” said Dr. Ori Tzvieli, Contra Costa County’s health officer. “This is one of those times. Our health system is not seriously impacted by COVID currently, and our goal is to keep it that way.”

Wearing a well-fitting mask, such as an N95 or KN95 respirator, is a healthy choice indoors, particularly in public spaces or if around people with whom you do not live.

Contra Costa’s only standing COVID-related health order requires workers at healthcare facilities to mask seasonally, from Nov. 1 to April 30 each year, to reduce risk to patients from COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

However, workers and visitors to healthcare facilities, including skilled nursing and congregate care facilities, are strongly encouraged to mask now in those settings.

Health guidance for schools and community colleges remains unchanged. But with the school year beginning this month for most campuses in the county, CCH recommends encouraging students and faculty, particularly those who maybe at risk for serious infection, to mask within classrooms and providing masks to anyone who asks for them, when possible.

Other important ways to protect against COVID-19 are to remain up to date on vaccination, testing for COVID-19 whenever you have symptoms, and staying home from work or school whenever you feel ill. Additionally, treatments remain available for COVID 19 for those who may be at risk of serious illness.

Contact your healthcare provider for advice on vaccination, testing and treatment when you are ill. An updated vaccine to protect against COVID-19 infections is expected to be available in late summer or early fall.

Home test kits are available from healthcare providers and pharmacies throughout the county. Check with your healthcare provider or insurer about any cost or copay for testing or test kits.

For more information about COVID-19 in Contra Costa County, visit cchealth.org/covid19.

Bay Area Rescue Mission to hold Back to School Block Party in Richmond Saturday, Aug. 3

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The Bay Area Rescue Mission – recently ranked as one of the top 0.1% nonprofits in the nation, addressing those in crisis – is hosting its annual block party in downtown Richmond on Saturday, August 3rd. The event is just one very visual way in which the Rescue Mission is expanding its good works from San Francisco out to the rest of the Bay Area.

The Back to School Block Party will include a Saturday full of fun individual and family activities – from the Backpack Giveaway to a Blessing Boutique, and Food, Groceries and Housewares Giveaways to The Kid’s Fun Zone. The event will give those in need the ability to “shop” for free resources that will help attendees get ready for the school year, prepare for the cold winter months ahead, get complimentary haircuts and much more. All in all, the event promises to have a real impact on the community.

“The 1,200 backpacks we’re giving away on Saturday were all packed by Chevron employees. They’ve been spoken for as people registered for them,” shared CEO Bram Begonia. “This is a huge thing. We close down the streets. We have gently used and new clothes in our Clothing Boutique. We’ll have a grocery give-away.”

We have Contra Costa Community College giving out food. We’ll have 50 community partners, here,” he added.

Asked if people have to register Bram stated, “The only thing people had to sign up for ahead of time was the backpacks.

Located on MacDonald Avenue between 1st and 3rd Streets, the event will run from 10 AM to 2 PM.

For more information about the Rescue Mission visit www.bayarearescue.org.

 

Patients’ donations of tissue are being hoarded hindering medical research

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Source: Children’s Tumor Foundation

By Annette Bakker, President, Children’s Tumor Foundation

Imagine receiving the shattering news that your daughter has cancer. Suddenly, you’re battling for her life. In the midst of treatment, you’re asked to sign a flurry of consent forms for her tissue to be donated for scientific research. 

Seeking to help others devastated by the same cruel disease, you agree. But in a twist, you’re never told how her tissue samples are actually being used — or if they ever get used at all.

You wouldn’t be alone. I lead the Children’s Tumor Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting a rare genetic disease called neurofibromatosis, or NF. There’s no cure for the condition, which causes tumors to grow on nerves. The families I work with are desperate for treatments. That’s why they sign the many lengthy “informed consent” documents presented to them at hospitals, asking for permission to use tissue taken for research. But they have no control over how those samples are eventually utilized. Often, specimens simply collect dust on shelves. 

The same thing happens frequently to older cancer patients and those battling other diseases. Many have undergone a biopsy or provided another tissue sample for the purpose of testing or treatment. They often wrongly assume that their samples will be used to aid research, and so sign out of a wish to help others.

Unlike organ donation, the market for “biomaterial” is largely unregulated. Hospitals typically provide it to “biobanks,” storage facilities that enter into partnerships with hospitals to gain access to tissue.

Currently, biobanks often impede medical progress by hoarding specimens. I know firsthand that a lack of access to tumor samples and cell lines is a major problem for NF research. I regularly encounter obstacles in helping researchers obtain these materials. 

Even when biobanks do provide specimens to researchers, they typically choose those with whom they have strong personal relationships or who can help them publish in prestigious publications. That means researchers in many fields lack access to tissue that would validate their hypotheses.

Most cancer patients want to support research, even if they don’t stand to benefit directly. But it’s deeply unfair to take someone’s tissue or bone marrow without telling them how such tissue will be used — or giving them a say in who gets to use it. 

Beyond basic ownership, patients should have more input on how their biomaterial is used. They should be able to decide for themselves which researchers receive their specimens — or consult with trusted patient organizations to make such decisions. They should also have the option to donate only to nonprofit biobanks, or to stipulate that access to their material shall not be restricted at all. 

While some biobanks tout a supposed commitment to valuing patient input, these proclamations are little more than window dressing in practice. To give patients a real say in the tissue donation process, we need patient committees for biobanks at large hospitals. Numerous studies have found that public involvement in biobanks bolsters long-term medical research and ensures more samples end up in laboratories.

Patients deserve transparency and influence when it comes to how their own bodies are used for research. Empowering them to make informed decisions will help accelerate medical progress for the greater good.

For information about the Children’s Tumor Foundation visit www.ctf.org.

First West Nile Virus death since 2006 reported in Contra Costa County

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Source: CCCounty

Victim was adult man in East County

One dead bird, five sentinel chickens test positive for virus, all in Oakley

By Contra Costa Health

A Contra Costa resident died this month from West Nile virus infection, underscoring the need for everyone in the county to take precautions against mosquito-borne illness.

The death of an adult man who lived in East County was reported to the county on July 16. It was the first West Nile virus-related death reported in Contra Costa since 2006.

“This is a tragedy, and we offer our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones for their loss.” said Dr. Meera Sreenivasan, deputy county health officer. “This death also reinforces how important it is to reduce risk of West Nile virus infection by reducing our exposure to mosquitos.”

Contra Costa Health’s (CCH) Communicable Disease Program is investigating the case and has not determined where the person became infected. To preserve medical privacy, CCH will not release further details about the case.

The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Contra District (District) has detected other recent evidence of the virus’s presence in East County. One dead bird and five sentinel chickens have tested positive for the virus in Contra Costa County, all located in Oakley. According to the Delaware Journal of Public Health, “Chickens serve as valuable sentinel animals since they are not effective amplifying hosts, and they develop a short and relatively low viremia compared to other bird species when infected by WNV.”

Certain birds can become infected with West Nile virus, and when a mosquito feeds on an infected bird, the mosquito can become infected. An infected mosquito can spread the virus to a human or other animal through a single bite. The infection can be dangerous to humans, with symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, or rash.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a Contra Costa County resident to West Nile virus,” said Paula Macedo, Ph.D., district general manager. “This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting ourselves from mosquito bites and supporting community efforts to control mosquito populations.”

West Nile virus activity is typically higher during the summer months. To reduce the risk of mosquito bites, the District recommends using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered insect repellents with one of the following active ingredients:

  • DEET
  • Picaridin
  • The repellent version of Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
  • IR3535

Always follow the instructions on the label when using insect repellent. Wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors where mosquitoes are present, often at dawn and dusk, can reduce exposed skin and reduce the risk of mosquito bites. And dumping out any amount of standing water in front and backyards and scrubbing the inside of each container to remove mosquito eggs can also help lower the risk of mosquitoes.

The District provides public health services to Contra Costa County residents including a mosquito service of inspection and control upon request. Request a District service by phone at 925-685-9301 or online at www.contracostamosquito.com. Click on “I Want to” at the top of the webpage, then select “Request Services” from the drop-down menu.

Contra Costa County residents can help the District identify areas of potential WNV risk by reporting dead birds to the California Dead Bird Call Center by phone at 1-877-968-2473 or online at westnile.ca.gov. Dead birds are often the first sign of West Nile virus in a particular area. By reporting dead birds, residents provide the District with critical information that allows District employees to set mosquito traps near the site of the dead bird to look for infected mosquitoes. If those mosquitos are found, the District will take timely action to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease for neighboring residents.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Kaiser Permanente mom from Brentwood to cheer on son at Paris Olympics

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Ncal-Olympics-02 – Denise and CJ Nickolas in 2009. (Left) 80Kg Gold Medalist Carl CJ Nickolas’ first flag run after he won the Taekwondo competition at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games October 22, 2023, in Santiago, Chile. Photo by Mark Reis, USOPC. (Center) Ncal-Olympics and Ncal-Olympics-01 CJ Nickolas at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile in October 2023. Photo credit by Mark Reis, USOPC (Right)

A nurse in Antioch, CA has nurtured her 22-year-old son’s taekwondo ambitions since he was 3

Expected to compete for gold, CJ Nickolas, a former Heritage High student, was first trained by his father at Givans Taekwondo in Antioch

By Elizabeth Schainbaum, Manager, Regional Content, Corporation Communications, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Over the years, wound care nurse Denise Nickolas would talk with colleagues about her kids’ sports activities — just as others would talk about their own kids.

Most colleagues didn’t realize her kids were different. They didn’t know how seriously athletic they were after he won a medal in World Taekwondo Championship in May 2023 when her son, CJ, received publicity as he vied for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

CJ is competing in the Paris Olympics in taekwondo on August 9, 2024. The 22-year-old is ranked second in the world.

“She doesn’t go around telling just anyone how he ranked at tournaments,” said Daniella White, a colleague who has cheered Nickolas on through CJ’s injuries and other challenges. “If someone asks, she will humbly share how well he did. That’s not to say she wasn’t overly proud or excited for him, but she just continued to show humility in the process.”

Kaiser Permanente fan club

Nickolas is happy everyone knows now.

“Everyone is so excited, and they asked why I didn’t say anything,” said Nickolas, who was a gymnast in college and also achieved a taekwondo black belt during her son’s practices. “They’ve been so supportive and even started a Teams group to cheer us on and check the progress of his Olympic bid.”

Her boss, Darci Walker, is a big fan.

“I remember her sharing one of CJ’s competitions where he won first place, and he moved the entire crowd and audience by singing the national anthem. The whole stadium joined in and sang together,” Walker recalled. “This was a very proud moment that Denise shared with me. When I watched the video on her phone, it brought me to tears as well. We are all excited for CJ and their entire family.”

A ‘family-friendly’ organization

Nickolas has worked at Kaiser Permanente since 2001. Since then, as a single mom, she’s juggled full-time work with two kids who were competitive athletes.

Her older daughter, now 24, was an elite gymnast for a long time. She pivoted to diving, and that was the sport she did in college.

Her kids’ sports often required traveling to competitions. Nickolas said her managers and colleagues have been supportive and accommodating when she’s had to take time off, even last minute.

“Kaiser Permanente is absolutely a family-friendly organization,” she said. “I was able to have the life I wanted with my kids because of Kaiser Permanente.”

To make it work, she would essentially work two part-time jobs and lived just 10 minutes from the hospital.

She would start the morning at the Antioch Medical Center and then take the kids to their practices. Later, she would work another shift with Home Health Department.

“I was exhausted, but it was worth it, totally worth it,” Nickolas said. “I’m so grateful.”

Walker said Nickolas also worked hard to make it work. She coordinated well with colleagues before she would travel so there were no bumps with patient care. When she returned, she was ready to get back into the swing of work.

Going for gold

Nickolas followed this routine for years. She realized in 2007 that CJ, who had been doing taekwondo for three years at that point, had a future in competitive sports.

At the age of three, he said he wanted to do martial arts. She hesitated because she was against combat sports at the time.

She pushed that feeling aside because she could see how eager he was to do it. She steered him to taekwondo because it was included in Ivy League sports programs and was an Olympic sport.

When he was about 6, she noticed he was intense and focused. She checked in with the coach.

“’Am I just proud or is he really good?’” she recalled saying. “The coach said, ‘No, he’s really as good as you think he is.’”

That coach, until CJ turned 18, was his father, Ed Givans, who previously owned and trained his son at Givans Taekwondo in Antioch which he relocated to Las Vegas in 2018. Givans is also on the Tournament Committee for USA Taekwondo and has another competitor he’s trained on the four-person U.S. team at the Olympics, Faith Dillon. As of last December, CJ was ranked number two in the world. She earned her spot at the Pan Am qualification tournament in April.

Many injuries later, including a broken toe that she said Kaiser Permanente did an excellent job of repairing, he’s now going for Olympic gold.

Nickolas will be there watching, with her Kaiser Permanente colleagues rooting for her son.

“I can’t believe this day has come,” she said. “He’s worked so hard, but it still feels so surreal.”

Watch CJ represent Team USA and compete on August 9th on the NBC channels.

Learn more about CJ’s experience and victories through the years, here, here and here.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Kaiser Permanente Nor Cal hospitals nationally recognized for delivering high-quality patient care and treatment

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U.S. News & World Report’s annual study rates Kaiser hospitals in the top 10 to 20% in U.S. for treating heart attacks, strokes, other challenging medical conditions

By Antonia Ehlers, PR & Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

OAKLAND, CA – Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s hospitals are rated among the best in the nation for treating heart attacks, strokes, and other medical conditions.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are recognized as “high-performing” in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-25 Best Hospitals  annual report in part due to the evidence-based treatments and comprehensive care and support provided to patients.

Nearly 5,000 hospitals participated in the study, which analyzes hospital performance for 15 specialty care areas and 20 procedures and conditions. The “high performing” designation — defined as top 10% to 20% in the United States – honors those hospitals that consistently deliver high-quality care when treating complex medical conditions.

“Our Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are continually recognized as leaders in the nation for providing our members and patients with exceptional care leading to positive health outcomes,” said Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “Our dedicated clinicians and care teams always strive to meet our patients’ health care needs as we work to improve their overall health and well-being.”

Kaiser Permanente patients receive coordinated and evidence-based care through an integrated system designed to put their health care needs above all else.

18 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals rated high-performing for cardiac care

Nearly 700,000 people die of heart disease every year – or 1 in every 5 deaths – so the treatment provided is critical to saving lives. Kaiser Permanente cardiologists and heart surgeons have experience treating a broad range of heart conditions and performing life-saving procedures. And our connected system allows them to share knowledge across locations and specialties.

According to the U.S. News & World Report’s ratings, 18 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are recognized as “high performing” for the treatment of either congestive heart failure or heart attacks.

“Our physicians and care teams not only excel at the routine procedures, but also the more specialized complex medical needs of our patients and members,” said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “We take pride in our ability to deliver innovative, nation-leading quality of care, helping our patients recover quickly so they can resume their normal activities and lead healthy lives.”

Ratings help inform decision-making about care

The annual ratings and rankings are designed to help patients and their health care providers make informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures.

Twenty Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are “high performing” in at least one of the 35 measures examined, including the treatment of stroke, congestive heart failure, and pneumonia.

  • Six Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are ranked among the top 60 hospitals out of more than 400 considered in California: The Kaiser Permanente Oakland, Richmond, Roseville, Santa Clara, San Francisco, and South Sacramento hospitals are all ranked among the state’s best.
  • Kaiser Permanente Oakland and Richmond hospitals are among the top 10% in the metropolitan area of San Francisco and the state of California for delivering safe, high-quality care.
  • Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara and Roseville hospitals are among the top 10% of hospitals in Northern California for delivering safe, high-quality care.
  • Kaiser Permanente Vallejo hospital is ranked 28thin the nation for rehabilitation out of nearly 5,000 hospitals evaluated. It’s also the second-highest ranked rehabilitation hospital in Northern California and the 4th highest in the state.
  • Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento is rated among the Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access.

Novel Contra Costa program connects domestic violence survivors with healthcare

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Sick woman staying at home and talking to her doctor online on a video call using telemedicine concepts. Source: Sutter Health

TeleCARE improves access to care, resources through video visits

by Monique Binkley Smith, Media Relations Manager, Sutter Health

The distraught woman arrived at an Antioch, California hospital emergency department with nothing: Her car, wallet and cell phone were stolen by her abusive boyfriend. She was treated for her injuries, but many victims of interpersonal violence can’t or won’t go to the hospital because they are afraid, lack access to transportation or childcare or, like the woman, their abuser has taken their ID.

And the problem goes beyond accessing care for injuries. Many interpersonal violence survivors and their children haven’t been seen by a doctor for preventive care or for treatment of a chronic condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes or asthma.

That’s where a unique collaborative telehealth service in Contra Costa County, called TeleCARE, comes in. The program safely connects survivors of interpersonal violence with the healthcare services they desperately need including medical care, mental health counseling, prescriptions and even dental care –all at no-cost to the patient.

Now in its fourth year, TeleCARE was founded by Dr. William Francis, a Sutter Delta Medical Center emergency medicine physician with Emeryville-based Vituity medical group, and Contra Costa Family Justice Center.

“At Contra Costa Family Justice Center, our priority is to help get people to safety. Once they’re safe, we’re able to connect them through the TeleCARE program to the healthcare services they and their children need. Whether it’s for traumatic injuries suffered at the hands of their aggressor or addressing long-term health issues, TeleCARE can help,” says Susun Kim, director of Contra Costa Family Justice Center.

Dr. Francis developed TeleCARE as a way to provide convenient –and safe— access to healthcare for people he treats in the emergency department for injuries sustained at the hands of their aggressors but who also need preventive care and treatment for illnesses and chronic medical conditions. And he wanted a way to offer care to survivors who were too frightened to come to the hospital at all.

“The goal of TeleCARE is to improve healthcare for people suffering interpersonal violence with no need for proof of insurance or requirement for ability to pay before connecting them with a clinician,” says Dr. Francis. “These are people who have immediate need of care for injuries or illnesses but who also often need care to manage their chronic conditions. It can be extremely difficult for them to access care in the traditional model because their aggressor prevents it.”

Dr. Francis says many survivors of interpersonal violence refuse to be taken to the hospital by ambulance when in distress, often because they lack childcare or because of the cost on top of the fear of potentially being revictimized by their aggressors.

Now, instead of just hoping survivors get the care they need, even if they refuse transport to the hospital, Contra Costa EMS responders give them a TeleCARE business card so they can arrange for a video visit with a provider when it’s safe for them to do so.

Seven private and public organizations in Contra Costa County now provide support to TeleCARE through the Green Light Collaborative. Thanks to this broad-based community support, TeleCARE has expanded its offerings to help survivors solve problems like obtaining prescriptions for themselves and their children and finding reliable transportation to work.

Dr. Francis is quick to point out how pervasive—and devastating—interpersonal violence is, with widespread impact on the entire community, especially as a primary cause of homelessness. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports one in three women and one in four men have experienced interpersonal violence from a partner, and according to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and their children.

“I’m so proud that as a physician practicing at Sutter, my colleagues and I are part of a network that works collaboratively with the community. Together, we can tackle the array of areas where we can improve access to care for underserved populations like survivors of domestic violence,” says Dr. Francis.

TeleCARE is made possible through grant funding, making the program rare, if not entirely unique, in its reach, accessibility and scope of collaboration throughout Contra Costa County. Part of the not-for-profit Sutter Health network of care, Sutter Delta Medical Center works to improve outcomes beyond its walls through investment in community partnerships and programs such as TeleCARE and the Green Light Collaborative.

Need help? County residents can access TeleCARE on-site at Contra Costa Family Justice Center, or call one of three Family Justice Center locations in Contra Costa County for an appointment:

Richmond: (510) 974-7200

Concord: (925) 521-6366

Antioch: (925) 281-0970