LAKEPORT
Sutter Lakeside earns fourth CMS four-star rating
For the fourth time, the Centers for Medicare Service & Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded Sutter Lakeside Hospital a four-star rating.
“We’re truly honored at Sutter Lakeside to receive a four-star rating from CMS again. We first earned a four-star rating in 2018, and this accolade continues to reflect the pride our nurses, staff and physicians take in their work to care for and support our patients. As the only Critical Access Hospital in the Sutter network, we’re grateful to provide a high level of care to residents in our local communities,” said Pauline Orr, Sutter Lakeside chief nursing executive.
Critical Access refers to a CMS designation given to rural hospitals such as Sutter Lakeside to ensure access to healthcare in remote communities. A Critical Access Hospital is licensed for 25 beds and must network with a hospital capable of taking high acuity patients.
Since 2016, CMS has assigned star ratings to hospitals. The rating system helps people make choices about where to receive non-emergency hospital-based care, like scheduled surgeries and procedures. Hospitals that perform better on standard measures of quality, including readmission rates, safety and patient experience receive more stars. On average, hospitals across the nation receive three stars, but high performers can earn four or five.
The ratings reflect multiple aspects of quality. The Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating summarizes about 50 measures of healthcare quality for a given hospital in comparison with other facilities throughout the country, but some of those measures have greater emphasis. Four heavily weighted categories―patient experience, safety, readmissions and mortality―account for more than 80% of a hospital’s overall star rating.
“Providing quality care and a great patient experience is our highest priority, and it’s also what makes our work in healthcare rewarding,” said Orr.
—Submitted
LAKE COUNTY
Northshore Fire Protection District’s Fuels Management Team is making Lake County communities safer
Since 2015, nearly two-thirds of Lake County’s landmass has been consumed by wildfire. Groups throughout the County are taking urgent action to make our communities safer. Collaboration and partnership among firefighters and other fire protection professionals, Tribal, County and City governments, community-based organizations and agencies and others has prepared us to make meaningful progress.
One recent success story is Northshore Fire Protection District’s Fuels Management Crew. Under the leadership of Chief Mike Ciancio, this group is already out conducting fire suppression and fire prevention activities in areas of high priority throughout Lake County! This work is possible, in part, thanks to a $662,000 donation from the Habematolel Tribe of Upper Lake. The Lake County Board of Supervisors has committed to support remaining anticipated first-year costs, up to $538,000 (of a total of $1.2 million).
Are you interested in joining this important team, and helping to reduce Lake County’s wildfire risk?
Applications are available at https://www.northshorefpd.com/employment, and being accepted on an ongoing basis. Email your completed application, resume and/or certificate(s) to cjimenez@northshorefpd.com, to apply. You can also mail your application: NFPD PO Box 1199, Lucerne, CA 95458.
—Submitted
LAKE COUNTY
Lake County Continuum of Care and Lake County Behavioral Health Services announce competition for 2022 housing, homeless assistance, and prevention grants for Emergency Shelter Program
The Lake County Continuum of Care (LCCoC) and Lake County Behavioral Health Services (LCBHS) are pleased to announce the availability of $300,000 through the Housing, Homeless, Assistance, and Prevention Rounds 2 and 3 program to provide operations of the COVID Emergency Shelter in the North Shore area of Lake County. The parameters of the program are for persons experiencing homelessness including 10% Youth Set Aside.
Please see our Request for proposal guidelines on our Funding Opportunities page online at:
https://www.lakecoc.org/upcoming-funding-opportunities
The deadline for applications is Aug. 17, 2022, by 11:59 P.M.
The LCCoC and County strongly encourage first-time applicants, agencies serving underserved populations, and agencies serving special needs populations to apply for CoC funding. Scoring support documents are available on the LCCoC website: lakecoc.org. Potential applicants are invited and encouraged to attend the virtual Q and A Session on Aug. 3, 2022, at 3 P.M. via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89538409328
—Submitted
WASHINGTON
Thompson votes to lower costs for consumers, create American jobs, and strengthen national security
This week, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) voted for H.R. 4346, The CHIPS and Science Act. This bipartisan legislation makes historic investments to surge production of American-made semiconductors, tackle supply chain vulnerabilities, bolster America’s scientific research and technological leadership, and strengthen America’s economic and national security. Many of these provisions passed the House in February as part of the America COMPETES Act.
“The CHIPS and Science Act is a major victory for our nation’s economy, families, and global competitiveness,” said Thompson. “Semiconductors power our cellphones, medical devices, cars, and more, and with today’s vote, we are ensuring this vital technology is made here in the United States. This legislation will provide support for domestic manufacturing and jobs, lower costs for consumers, and revitalize support for our research institutions to advance cutting-edge studies. I am proud to vote for this significant legislation and look forward to it being enacted into law.”
Only 12 percent of semiconductor chips are currently being manufactured domestically, down from 37 percent in the 1990s, and many foreign competitors are investing heavily to dominate this critical national security industry. This package will return the U.S. to its status as a world leader in the semiconductor manufacturing industry and shore up our economic and national security. The lack of domestic manufacturing of semiconductors was one significant driver of inflation leading to higher prices for cars, electronics and other products that require microchips to operate.
The CHIPS and Science Act includes more than $52 billion for the CHIPS for America Fund to help manufacturers build, expand, or modernize domestic facilities and equipment for semiconductor fabrication, assembly, testing, advanced packaging, or research and development, including $2 billion specifically for legacy semiconductors, $2 billion for the CHIPS for America Defense Fund to be used for microelectronic research and development at the Defense Department, and $500 million for the CHIPS for America International Technology Security and Innovation Fund.
This package includes $1.5 billion for Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation, known as ORAN, to expand access to American-made 5G technology so everyone can participate in the 21st Century Economy.
The CHIPS and Science Act makes robust investments in science and technology for American consumers and workers, including:
- Strengthening research and development through the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which will power America’s preeminence in both basic research and next-generation technologies.
- Advancing regional technology hubs to ensure that communities across the country can participate in research and development.
- Diversifying our STEM workforce to be inclusive so that our nation’s brightest minds are helping drive American innovation.
- $1 billion RECOMPETES grant program for persistently distressed communities, creating good-paying jobs meeting local economic development needs.
- Bolstering U.S. space exploration and research initiatives including authorized funds for NASA advancements in space technology, the Artemis IV lunar missions, and the International Space Station.
The CHIPS and Science Act is a powerful bipartisan investment in lowering costs for American families, ending dependence on foreign manufacturers instead of American-made semiconductors, and turbocharging American research and development to ensure our economic and national security for generations to come through American-led innovation and development.
—Submitted
—Compiled by Ariel Carmona Jr.
