Telemedicine among keys to Healdsburg hospital revival

HEALDSBURG – The small public hospital that once teetered on the edge of failure is now close to successfully concluding its strategic business plan, which includes implementation of technology that officials hope will connect 10 North Bay medical facilities.
Telemedicine is the latest in technology aimed at reducing costs and sharing physicians in a time of shortage, which is a problem already prevalent in North Bay counties. Just this year, the Healdsburg hospital lost four new recruits and is struggling to cover positions that have long been vacated.
Currently, Healdsburg District Hospital uses the technology in the emergency department, but eventually it will move to the new intensive care unit and emergency department expected to open this month or early next year.
The remote presence imaging program was first administered at Palm Drive Hospital in Sebastopol by Dr. James Gude, who will also lead and train physicians for the whole system. By using a camera on a robot-like device, patients at one location are connected with specialists or other experts at another location.
Dr. Gude and officials from a recently formed coalition of small North Bay hospitals hope to connect at least 10 hospitals and control the system from a central office possibly in Santa Rosa, according to North Sonoma County Hospital District board member Kurt Hahn.
During the next few months, approximately five other hospitals will connect to the system, including Sonoma Valley Hospital and Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Marin health care district also plans to join the Joint Powers Authority, but officials did not say whether it would implement the new technology.

Finishing its business plan

Last year, district officials devised a strategic business plan with a health consulting firm that laid out several steps for becoming profitable. One year later, the Healdsburg hospital is just one step away from a successful completion, which is in large part the result of fundraising by the Northern Sonoma County Healthcare Foundation.
Actions in the plan included expanding the emergency department, reopening the ICU and expanding the surgical suite, all of which were greatly helped by community donations.
One of the largest donations was made by Maggie and Harry Wetzel, who contributed $2 million for the new emergency department. Other large donors include Henry and Holly Wendt, who recently received the first annual Wetzel Community Leadership Award. The new ER and ICU are scheduled to open this January.
The final step in the plan yet to be implemented is recruiting new doctors. In the past, the hospital has tried relocation allowances and income guarantees, but those measures were not successful.
 The board has considered several options, including the addition of a medical incubator, which is an independent staff or group that would provide administrative services to doctors throughout the small hospital coalition.
“If we can’t recruit doctors it will have a ripple effect that affects all businesses. It is hard to recruit employees in a town with no family doctors,” Mr. Hahn said.
Other plans are in the works to add a stroke center, but details of that project have not been released. Mr. Hahn said Healdsburg officials chose the specialty because they wanted to take advantage of the non-competitive market as they will be the only facility to offer the service outside of San Francisco and Sacramento.
The board is also discussing the possibility of a Healdsburg residency program similar the residency program in Santa Rosa.
The new specialty service and residency program could begin as early as January. Mr. Hahn said it is unlikely the maternity ward will reopen and the new programs could move to that space.
In 1998, the hospital was in serious danger of closing and had to stop offering many services to make up losses. But the hospital is back on its feet, recording profits last year and more expected with the new emergency department and ICU.
Between 2005 and 2006, the hospital increased operating revenues by approximately $3 million and reduced operating losses by 45 percent or about $1.6 million.