California Department of Public Health

​​California Teens to Have Equitable Access to Mobile Mental Health Support

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 1, 2023

The initiative provides teens with secure access to engaging mental health content and skill-building activities, as well as 1:1 coaching and connections to clinical services and 24/7 crisis support.

Key Points: 
  • The initiative provides teens with secure access to engaging mental health content and skill-building activities, as well as 1:1 coaching and connections to clinical services and 24/7 crisis support.
  • To better support and prioritize mental health equity, the BeMe app provides culturally relevant mental health services as well as science-based content tailored to languages, experiences, and culture.
  • The new three-way partnership also connects directly to the prior teen mental health collaboration between Molina and BeMe.
  • This includes the growing need for mental health–based support services, as half of youth mental health conditions start by the age of 14, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Prime Healthcare Announces Preliminary Agreement with UC San Diego Health for the Sale of Alvarado Hospital Medical Center

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Prime Healthcare announced today that it has signed an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) with UC San Diego Health for the sale of Alvarado Hospital Medical Center in San Diego, California, marking a new chapter of service excellence and award-winning healthcare for this 50-year-old community institution.

Key Points: 
  • Prime Healthcare announced today that it has signed an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA) with UC San Diego Health for the sale of Alvarado Hospital Medical Center in San Diego, California, marking a new chapter of service excellence and award-winning healthcare for this 50-year-old community institution.
  • UC San Diego Health looks forward to collaborating with the extraordinary physicians, nurses and staff of Alvarado Hospital and inviting them to be part of our team.”
    UC San Diego Health has pledged to maintain existing services at Alvarado Hospital and hire substantially all employees.
  • Employees transferring from Alvarado Hospital to UC San Diego Health will have the option to join unions currently representing their respective positions in the health system.
  • UC San Diego Health has also committed to continuing the work begun with Prime Healthcare leadership to address the behavioral health needs of San Diego County.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Selects Verily to Support National Wastewater Monitoring

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 2, 2023

Verily, an Alphabet precision health technology company, today announced it was selected by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to support the agency’s National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS).

Key Points: 
  • Verily, an Alphabet precision health technology company, today announced it was selected by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to support the agency’s National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS).
  • The CDC launched NWSS in September 2020 to coordinate and build the nation’s capacity to track the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples collected across the country.
  • Verily’s Wastewater program offers wastewater surveillance to test for pathogens present in wastewater treatment facilities nationwide, allowing for timely detection and monitoring to inform public health actions.
  • Verily’s Wastewater program provides a robust measure of community infection trends at the height of surges when clinical testing can have insufficient capacity.

STRIKE - RNs and Almost All Health Care Staff to Strike St. Francis Medical Center 10/9 - 10/13

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 28, 2023

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Most of the essential medical personnel at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, California, will go on strike from Monday, October 9 through Friday, October 13. The unions representing 600 registered nurses (UNAC/UHCP) and nearly all the medical support staff—nursing assistants, medical techs, and more (SEIU-UHW)—presented the legally required 10-day notice yesterday informing hospital management and Prime Healthcare, the hospital's owner, of the looming strike.

Key Points: 
  • St. Francis Medical Center is one of the busiest hospitals in Los Angeles County, with the only Level II trauma, stroke, and STEMI (heart attack response) center for many miles around.
  • This is where you will be coming," said Scott Byington, RN, president of the UNAC/UHCP affiliate at St. Francis.
  • Byington is a mobile critical care nurse at St. Francis, which means he's part of a crew that responds to trauma emergencies throughout the hospital.
  • UNAC/UHCP is affiliated with the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.

National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) Hosts the California Leadership Fellowship Program in Sacramento to Advance Health Equity

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 13, 2023

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF), the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), is proud to host the California Leadership Fellowship program for Latino physicians from across the state to participate in this week's Sacramento Institute.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF), the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), is proud to host the California Leadership Fellowship program for Latino physicians from across the state to participate in this week's Sacramento Institute.
  • The NHHF Fellowship program is a year-long executive training that covers leadership skill-building sessions as well as lectures on public health policies and programs at the Federal and State levels focused on Latino health equity.
  • "Health Net is a long-standing supporter of the National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) and we're proud to bolster our relationship through our commitment to their California Leadership Fellowship program," said President and CEO of Health Net, Brian Ternan.
  • "In today's California, forward-thinking healthcare organizations embrace culturally centered care and whole person health to close health equity gaps.

PHASE Scientific Americas Announces Continued Growth with Investment of a New CLIA-Certified Medical Laboratory

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 26, 2023

PHASE Scientific Americas (PHASE Scientific), a fast-growing biotechnology company actively developing innovative solutions to revolutionize diagnostics in healthcare announces that their PHASE Scientific Medical Laboratory (PHASE Lab) has been certified by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and issued licensure by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to perform moderate and high-complexity testing.

Key Points: 
  • PHASE Scientific Americas (PHASE Scientific), a fast-growing biotechnology company actively developing innovative solutions to revolutionize diagnostics in healthcare announces that their PHASE Scientific Medical Laboratory (PHASE Lab) has been certified by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and issued licensure by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to perform moderate and high-complexity testing.
  • PHASE Lab has demonstrated that it operates in a manner that ensures high-quality standards in patient testing.
  • PHASE Scientific’s investment in the laboratory facility will enable the company to launch at-home testing services and professional oncology services.
  • “We are excited to grow and position PHASE to bring tremendous value to the diagnostic testing market.”
    To learn more about PHASE Scientific Americas, click here .

Prominent Public Interest Groups Support Consumer Watchdog Petition To CA Supreme Court To Require State Agencies To Enforce Strict Rule On Radioactive Debris Disposal From Santa Susana Site

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 18, 2023

LOS ANGELES, July 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Public interest groups filed amicus letters with the California Supreme Court seeking review of a decision by the First District Court of Appeal that would allow Boeing to demolish radioactive structures at Santa Susana Field Lab and dispose of the resulting debris in unequipped landfills and metal recycling centers without any state oversight.

Key Points: 
  • Read the amicus letter of Friends of the Earth, California Communities Against Toxics, the Nuclear Information and Resource Service.
  • Parents Against Santa Susana Field Laboratory whose children have experienced rare forms of pediatric cancer filed another amicus letter supporting the petition.
  • To this day, its toxic and radioactive contamination threatens more than 700,000 people living within ten miles of the site.
  • If the lower court decision stands, the state will have enabled Boeing to put radiologically contaminated debris anywhere they like.

A Cigarette to Help Californians Smoke Less: 22nd Century Group, Inc. Launches Reduced Nicotine VLN® King Cigarettes in California, VLN Will Be Sold at #1 U.S. Convenience Store Chain and Other Responsible Retail Locations

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 17, 2023

VLN® King cigarettes have made history by receiving U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval as a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP).

Key Points: 
  • VLN® King cigarettes have made history by receiving U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval as a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP).
  • Having options like these products authorized today, which contain less nicotine and are reasonably likely to reduce nicotine dependence, may help adult smokers.
  • Research conducted in 20181 highlighted the significant benefits experienced by smokers who transitioned to reduced nicotine content cigarettes.
  • “VLN® cigarettes are clinically proven to help adult smokers smoke less and cut back on their nicotine intake,” said Calvin Treat, 22nd Century Group, Inc., Chief Scientific Officer.

U.S.-MEXICO BORDER COVID-19 TESTING PROGRAM ENDS

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 11, 2023

SAN DIEGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership (BPP), the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and Cross Border Xpress (CBX) announce the end of the U.S.-Mexico Border COVID-19 Testing Program at the San Diego-Tijuana CBX on June 29, 2023.

Key Points: 
  • SAN DIEGO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership (BPP), the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and Cross Border Xpress (CBX) announce the end of the U.S.-Mexico Border COVID-19 Testing Program at the San Diego-Tijuana CBX on June 29, 2023.
  • A total of 16,857 individuals, aged 5 and up, participated in the program, and 564 positive COVID-19 cases were identified.
  • "We greatly appreciate our community partnership with BPP and extend our thanks to Cross Border Xpress for allowing us to provide this important service to our community."
  • Funded by the CDPH's California Office of Binational Border Health, the program allowed the CDPH COVID-19 Testing Task Force to test for COVID-19 and to provide international travelers with information about COVID-19 prevention and treatment.

Weideman Group Hires Daniel C. Kim as Director of Procurement

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 31, 2023

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Weideman Group, one of California's top lobbying and consulting firms, is proud to announce that Daniel C. Kim has joined the firm as Director of Procurement.

Key Points: 
  • SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Weideman Group, one of California's top lobbying and consulting firms, is proud to announce that Daniel C. Kim has joined the firm as Director of Procurement.
  • He will lead Weideman Group's growing procurement practice, which provides clients with unparalleled expertise and guidance on their government procurement objectives.
  • As the Director of the California Department of General Services (DGS) for two governors, Kim developed deep knowledge of state policy, procurement, and regulations.
  • "I am excited to join such a respected firm as Weideman Group," said Kim.