April 21, 2008

Blue Ribbon Panel Considering the Future of St. Luke's Holds Second Meeting To Review Key Data & Population Trends Affecting Future of Health Care Services In South of Market Area

Third Open Meeting Scheduled for May 8, 2008

The Blue Ribbon Panel formed to help shape the future of California Pacific Medical Center's (CPMC) health delivery approach South of Market, including the future of St. Luke's, held its second meeting last week. The first of two data input sessions for the panel, the meeting focused on understanding CPMC's draft institutional master plan as well as substantial population and health services information and trend analysis. The second data-input session for the Blue Ribbon panel will be May 8, 2008 from noon to 2 p.m. at Mission Bay Conference Center - Fisher Banquet Rom; this meeting is open to the public.

The Blue Ribbon Panel has been established as an independent body to create a viable plan for acute care hospital and outpatient services at St. Luke's, which complements and is supported by CPMC's current institutional plan for all its San Francisco campuses and meets the healthcare needs of the communities served. "We are exactly where we need to be in this discovery and recommendation process," said Stephen Shortell, Ph.D., MPH, Dean of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health and Chair of the Blue Ribbon Panel. "Potential ideas are starting to emerge from the data, and with everyone working towards the same goal, we're confident about the outcomes of our work."

Vice-chair of the Panel, The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California, added, "The panel is highly engaged, and it is gratifying to see how everyone has dug into the material to prepare themselves to grapple with the difficult challenge of finding realistic and helpful solutions for the future of St. Luke's and healthcare services for the people in the South of Market area."

Martin Brotman, M.D., President & CEO of CPMC, presented the CPMC Institutional Master Plan and reiterated CPMC's appreciation for the panel's assistance in finding a viable solution that will maintain St. Luke's as a vibrant part of CPMC's health care delivery campus strategy in San Francisco.

The Camden Group, independent research consultants to the Blue Ribbon Panel, presented indepth analysis of population segmentation and trends through 2030, as well as detailed information about the health care services most in demand from the South of Market neighborhoods, and how health care needs will change as the population evolves over the next 25 years.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom addressed the panel briefly, thanking the members for their service.

About the Blue Ribbon Panel
The Blue Ribbon Panel to San Francisco's California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) is an independent body created under the guidance of San Francisco Supervisor Alioto-Pier and the San Francisco Director of Health, Mitch Katz, M.D. The goal of the Blue Ribbon Panel is to articulate a viable plan for acute care hospital and outpatient services at CPMC's St. Luke's campus which complements and is supported by CPMC's current institutional plan for its other campuses and to meet the health needs of the communities it serves.

Take Up Your Keyboard and Talk to Us

Read this week's Issue Beyond Medicine about research.

March for Babies

California Pacific Medical Center is a proud sponsor of the March for Babies, which champions the needs of moms and babies across the nation.

The 6.25 mile March for Babies is on Saturday, April 26 at Fort Mason in San Francisco. Join the CPMC team by signing up at www.marchforbabies.org. Select Sutter Health, then California, then California Pacific Medical Center. As part of the CPMC team you will get a team t-shirt and lunch at the event. Your donation will go towards lifesaving research, community services, education and advocacy that can help babies get a healthy start. Help make a difference in the lives of millions of babies.