Contra Costa Herald

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

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

Congressman Garamendi announces he has early stage, treatable blood cancer

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Rep. John Garamendi announces his cancer diagnosis in a video on his X feed on Monday, July 8, 2024. and his official photo.

Represents northern waterfront and western Contra Costa communities

By Office of Representative John Garamendi

WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) on Monday, July 8, 2024, released the following statement about his diagnosis of early stage, treatable blood cancer:

“My wife Patti, a leader in the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program, ensures I stay vigilant about preventative screenings and care. Freezing abnormal bumps is standard, but a call from my doctor changed everything: “When will you be back in California? You need to come in for a series of tests.” Thus began my journey with early-stage Multiple Myeloma, a form of treatable blood cancer.

“Today, I started my path to remission with chemo-immunotherapy as an outpatient at Kaiser Oncology in Sacramento. With early detection, excellent doctors, and the love and support of Patti, our entire family, my extraordinary staff, and congressional colleagues, I know I’ll get through this while continuing to serve my constituents and advance American democracy. I’m grateful our President initiated the Cancer Moonshot and that California’s efforts in stem cell research and taxing cigarettes in the 1980s for cancer research have advanced therapies benefiting not only me, but every family dealing with cancer.

“Throughout my treatments, which my doctor expects will last a few months, I will continue working on my long list of projects and goals for my constituents in Contra Costa and Solano counties. However, alongside destroying cancer cells, chemotherapy weakens natural antibodies and the immune system. My doctors have cautioned me to minimize exposure to COVID-19, flu, and other viruses, so I will limit travel to Washington and public events during the treatment process.

“My thoughts and support are with families managing cancer or any health condition, and with the doctors, nurses, and medical personnel who offer comfort and hope. I am confident that the treatments will be effective, allowing me to continue serving impacted families and my constituents in Congress for years to come.”

In a video post on his X (formerly Twitter) feed on Monday, Garamendi read his statement and wrote, “Like 1.9 million Americans each year, I recently received the dreaded call from my doctor informing me that I had cancer. I am thankful to have caught this early, and we are confident that I will soon be in remission.”

The 79-year-old Garamendi represents the northern waterfront and western communities of Contra Costa County including the northern portion of Antioch in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Contra Costa County resources available during excessive heat warning through July 4th holiday

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Locations of places to cool and cooling centers throughout the county on Thursday, July 4th, 2024. Source: Contra Costa County

(Martinez, Calif.) – The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for Contra Costa County through Tuesday, July 9, and Contra Costa Health has issued a public health advisory. Residents seeking relief from the dangerously hot conditions can find resources and information by visiting the County website: contracosta.ca.gov.

The County site includes an interactive map of places to cool and cooling centers, including several that are open through the July 4th holiday (see below list). The County is updating these locations on an ongoing basis.

The site also provides health safety tips, transportation information, and additional resources and links to help County residents get through the next several days of well-above-normal temperatures that may lead to compounding effects.

Anyone concerned about heat-related illness should contact their healthcare providers or, if it’s an emergency, call 911.

People who are experiencing homelessness and need help can call 211 from anywhere in Contra Costa County to be connected to services. All Contra Costa can also call 211 for information about transportation to places to cool.

In addition to updates on contracosta.ca.gov, residents can follow Contra Costa County social media sites on X at @CCCounty and Nextdoor at https://nextdoor.com/agency-detail/ca/contra-costa-county/contra-costa-county/.

Four Bay Area students form company, create award-winning app to diagnose Parkinson’s disease

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The Zeno team: (left to right) Amala Valiveti, Anya Iyer, Eshaani Singh and Diya Vatsavai. Photo courtesy of Anya Iyer

Including Dougherty Valley High senior; is voice activated

By Allen D. Payton

Four high school friends from San Ramon and San Jose have formed a company and developed an app to help diagnose Parkinson’s disease. Zeno was formed by Anya Iyer, incoming senior at Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon, who serves as the company’s CEO, Diya Vatsavai, incoming junior at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, who is the company’s Chief Technology Officer, Amala Valiveti, an incoming senior at Silver Creek High School in San Jose, Zeno’s Chief Financial Officer, and Eshaani Singh, an incoming senior at Evergreen Valley High School, also in San Jose, who serves as the Chief Marketing Officer for the company.

The four girls met in elementary school. “We all four had been friends in elementary and middle school before going off to different high schools,” the young CEO shared.

“We formed the company before fully developing the app,” Iyer explained. “We started the actual idea itself in June 2021, established Zeno as a company in June 2022, and then finished developing the prototype and testing around June 2023.”

Company Description:

Zeno’s technology provides an efficient method of diagnosis for Parkinson’s disease based on vocal biomarkers. By detecting and analyzing early vocal impairments, Zeno’s system enables accurate and timely detection of the condition. This innovative tool enhances the diagnostic process, allowing for prompt interventions and treatment.

Zeno team won the Power Pitch Award at the 2022 Conrad Challenge. Source: Conrad Challenge

Their Story:

“We developed this application after our families were hit hard by Parkinson’s disease a few years ago,” Iyer shared. “This huge emotional toll on our families caused us to look into solutions for early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.”

“Looking into current market solutions, we noticed that many existing products either had low accuracy or were time-consuming and inaccessible for patients,” she continued. “After thorough research, we came across vocal impairments and biomarkers being one of the earliest hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease.”

Speaking with neurologists and medical professionals further deepened their understanding of the disease, and soon after, the team went to work developing their app. We spent months developing a machine learning algorithm and creating a viable business plan.

Eventually, they not only were able to share this app with their community, but the team also won the 2022 Power Pitch Award at the Conrad Challenge, an international business competition, in the Health & Nutrition Category, and became a Semi-Finalist in the Diamond Challenge, a national competition. (See the team’s virtual pitch video)

Speaking at the NEXUS Global Summit were team members Eshaani Singh (right) and Anya Iyer (left). Photo courtesy of Anya Iyer

“Soon after, we were invited to speak at the NEXUS Global Business Summit in New York City as the youngest speakers there,” Iyer stated. “At the summit, we were exposed to various venture capitalists, industry professionals and fellow entrepreneurs, all who encouraged and inspired us to continue innovating and creating.”

Since then, we have worked on testing our product with patients and improving our current diagnosis performance, while also focusing on funding,” the young CEO shared. Our hope is for Zeno to improve the lives of families everywhere, one diagnosis at a time.”

Asked for more details about the company, Iyer shared, “Our company is privately held, but we are raising funds through PayPal and Venmo within our community.”

Pacific Senior Care Services celebrates 10 years in business

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Kelly Gonzales is the founder and owner of Pacific Senior Care Services LLC.

Honored with awards each year

By Allen D. Payton

Having finished commercial aviation and tourism studies at Columbia College and working for an airline at an airport in Peru, Kelly Gonzales immigrated to the United States at age 19.  Then after working in banking and financial services for 20 years, she wanted to pursue her passion and did that by forming Pacific Senior Care Services in 2014 using her skills to help place people into care homes.

Gonzales was particularly inspired by the care her retired Army colonel and veterinarian father needed and received in Lima, Peru after he suffered a stroke. But she couldn’t really help him living over 15 hours away by flight. Instead, Gonzales and her team have been able to fulfill the company’s slogan and mission of “Meeting Elder Needs With Love and Compassion” in Contra Costa County and the Bay Area.

“My father was the main reason I started the business,” she said.

Now her company is celebrating its 10th Anniversary in business. Gonzales opened the company’s main office in Walnut Creek.

“I thank the Lord for enabling me to fulfill my calling,” she shared. “I never thought in my life I would be doing this. Working with the right people we’ve been able to help many families in the community. It’s been a blessing. I have good people around me, our support staff, and contractors.” She thanked them and “all those who gave us leads through the years.”

“Families who we’ve helped call us later and let us know of others we can provide services to,” Gonzales stated.

The company’s short-term plans include, “opening an office in Sacramento, later this year, Lord willing, and relocate our other office from San Mateo to Redwood Shores to serve families on the peninsula,” she said.

Gonzales’ daughter, who is a Certified Medical Assistant and attended Diablo Valley College, and now in the process of earning her nursing designation, works with her making it a family-operated business.

“We are also forming a homecare agency with partners in the industry,” she continued. They plan to also offer that service in the Sacramento area and San Mateo County.

Gonzales’ and Pacific Senior Care Services were chosen to represent the National Long Term Care Planning Council to create a team in the Bay Area.

“The San Francisco Bay Elder Planning Council was created to help solve critical aging issues and planning for the final years by providing a free central source of information, with senior advisors and professionals within our network,” she shared. “Guiding family members seeking help for their loved ones is the main focus. Another purpose of our planning council is to encourage people to prepare for the future needs for aging services.”

Awards & Honors

Under Gonzales’ leadership Pacific Senior Care Services PSCS) has also been honored with several awards through the year, including being named one of the 2024 Best Full Service Senior Care Providers in California by Global Health & Pharma Magazine, Social Care Awards.

Last year the company was honored in the California Business Awards 2023 as a Leading Provider of Senior Care Services – Northern California by the New World Report and in 2017 and 2022 PSCS was honored for Excellence in Customer Service by City Beat News.

The company has been honored with other awards every year they’ve been in business.

For more information about Pacific Senior Care Services visit their website www.pacificseniorcareservices.net.

New Contra Costa Youth Stabilization Unit opening for children, teens experiencing psychiatric emergencies  

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At Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez

By Contra Costa Health

Children and adolescents having psychiatric emergencies will have their own standalone 24/7 behavioral health crisis stabilization space in Contra Costa County starting Monday, June 24.

The new Contra Costa Youth Stabilization Unit will serve people ages 6-17 for the first 24 hours of a diagnosed psychiatric emergency when they are considered a danger to themselves or others.

Until now, youth in the county experiencing psychiatric emergencies were treated alongside adults in the Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) unit at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center. Children and teens will now be able to receive developmentally appropriate emergency psychiatric care in a dedicated space designed for pediatric patients that is separate from the adult PES.

“This is a huge step forward for mental healthcare for youth in our community,” said Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Chair Federal Glover. “Having a dedicated standalone space for children and adolescents will provide our kids with a more safe, secure and therapeutic environment to help them heal.”

The Youth Stabilization Unit, located at 25 Allen Street next to the Miller Wellness Center, will be able to serve up to eight minors at a time. In 2023, there were 1,072 admissions for pediatric psychiatric patients at the PES unit. The majority of those admitted were adolescents and young teens who presented with depression and suicidal ideation or intent.

Contra Costa Health has contracted with Pacific Clinics to staff the new unit. Care teams will include psychiatrists, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, licensed psychiatric technicians, clinicians and crisis intervention specialists. Services will include crisis intervention, mental health assessment, medication assistance, therapy, alcohol and drug screening, case management and peer support.

The program is designed to provide a calming and welcoming environment to support mental wellness. The goal is to stabilize the unit’s patients and connect them with mental health services without requiring inpatient hospitalization, although, when clinically appropriate, inpatient care may still be recommended.

Many children and adolescents suffering mental health crises are either hospitalized or arrested, which can be even further destabilizing. Having a team of mental health professionals available to provide crisis stabilization at the new facility will help divert youth from unnecessary encounters with law enforcement or visits to hospital emergency rooms.

“The new Crisis Stabilization Unit will give youth experiencing a behavioral health crisis compassionate care tailored to their needs,” said Suzanne Tavano, Behavioral Health director for Contra Costa Health. “It is going to be a tremendous resource for our community.”

“Our team’s primary goals are to provide support and safety to these young individuals in a time of crisis,” said Mary Sheppard, regional executive director for Pacific Clinics. “We will be a therapeutic, landing spot for them and aim to instill in them the belief that there is hope beyond this moment.”

 

Kaiser Permanente invests $1.3 billion in improving health of Nor Cal communities

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Photo: Kaiser Permanente

Good health starts in the community

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

When you think of Kaiser Permanente, you might think of its hospitals and health plan.

What you may not know is Kaiser Permanente is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the health of the communities it serves.

In 2023, Kaiser Permanente invested $1.3 billion dollars in its Northern California communities and $113 million in the Diablo service area to support community health.

A significant part of these investments supported access to quality health care for people in need through Kaiser Permanente’s participation in California’s Medi-Cal program. The investments also supported 98,000 patients who received medical financial assistance to pay for surgeries, prescriptions, and other care at Kaiser Permanente Northern California facilities.

In addition, Kaiser Permanente made significant investments in the education of new health and mental health care professionals, charitable contributions to community partners working to improve conditions for health, and medical research to improve the delivery of health care for all.

Learn more about Kaiser Permanente’s efforts in your Northern California community by going to the Community Health Snapshot and clicking on “Communities We Serve”.

Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center recognized for patient safety

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Photos: Kaiser Permanente

Named to 2024 Cal Hospital Compare Patient Safety Honor Roll for having a strong culture of safety

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

With a commitment to providing high-quality, safe patient care, Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center has been named to the Cal Hospital Compare 2024 Patient Safety Honor Roll.

The honor roll uses objective, publicly available patient safety measures to evaluate hospitals across a variety of domains, including hospital-acquired infections, adverse patient safety events, sepsis management, patient experience, and the Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Grade.

This year, 72 of the state’s 306 adult, acute-care hospitals made the honor roll. Kaiser Permanente Northern California had 10 hospitals on the list – representing 14% of the hospitals recognized.

“The safety of our patients is our top priority,” said Pam Galley, senior vice president and area of Kaiser Permanente’s Diablo service area. “Our health care providers work hard to create a safe, exceptional patient-care experience.”

Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are consistently recognized as among the country’s best for outstanding patient safety, positive care outcomes, and exceptional patient-care experiences.

“We are committed to providing excellent personalized care while keeping our patients safe from harm,” said Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center Physician in Chief Sharon Mowat, MD. “We are very grateful for our extraordinary physicians, nurses and staff members who make a difference every day.”

Hospitals on the honor roll had to meet a rigorous threshold of performance by having at least two-thirds of measure results above the 50th percentile and no measure result below the 10th percentile and/or an “A” grade in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for the past three reporting periods.

This honor roll offers Californians a rigorously evaluated list of hospitals that have consistently demonstrated a strong culture of safety across multiple departments, according to Cal Hospital Compare.