Latest Update on the Blue Ribbon Panel Process

Blue Ribbon Panel Update CPMC CONTACT Kevin McCormack (415) 600-2984

San Francisco, CA (February 13, 2008) - Under the guidance of Supervisor Michela Alioto-¬Pier and Dr. Mitch Katz, Director of San Francisco's Department of Public Health a public-¬private planning process is being developed to ensure California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) plays its appropriate part in promoting the health care needs of all San Franciscans. A "Blue Ribbon" panel of leaders in health, business, conmunity, and labor is being convened to develop 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.

We are pleased that Stephen M. Shortell, PhD, MPH, Dean and professor at the School of Public Health at UC Berkeley has agreed to chair the panel. He will be joined by the Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California is as vice-chair.

To date, the following participants have agreed to join the panel:

Mitch Katz, M.D., Director of San Francisco Department of Public Health
Catherine Dodd, PhD, Health Advisor, the Mayor's Office
Anthony Wagner, former Vice President of Labor Relations, Kaiser Permanente and former Executive Administrator, San Francisco Department of Health
Linda Bien, President & CEO of North East Medical Services
Jean Fraser, CEO San Francisco Health Plan
Jacob Moody, Bayview Hunters Point Foundation
Steve Falk, President and CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
Ed Kersh, M.D., Vice Chief of Staff, St. Luke's. for St. Luke's medical staff
Damian Augustyn, M.D., Chief of Staff, CPMC for CPMC medical staff Ken Barnes, M.D. for Savestlukes.org

Other invitations are still pending. Representatives from the California Nurses Association and the Service Employees International Union have also been invited.

The meeting dates have been determined:

Meeting #1 - March 20th
Meeting #2 - April 16th
Meeting #3 - May 8th
Meeting #4 - May 19th
Meeting #5 - June 3rd
Meeting #6 - June 18th

Meetings will take place from noon to 2 PM. Location is to be determined.
In addition to hearing from its own members, the Blue Ribbon Panel will also receive input from the wider community.....

CPMC's Steve Lockhart, M.D., PhD, will serve as a community liaison to the panel and will gather community input with the help of Fr. John Golenski, a neutral third party, for presentation to the panel.

This effort will provide the panel with the opportunity to query the community on any issues for which it desires a community response. This component will include targeted interviews with individuals and groups, as well as public comments at 'town hall' meetings. A special task force will then gather those ideas and suggestions from the community, and create a thoughtful consensus report.

"I feel very positive about the progress being made and look forward to the panel's work," says Mitch Katz, M.D. who has been closely involved with the panel development and recruitment. "California Pacific Medical Center has shown a strong commitment to the process."

"Very talented and thoughtful individuals have agreed to participate," says Martin Brotman, M.D., President and CEO of California Pacific Medical Center. "I am grateful because I know this will demand a time commitment on their part. They are providing a very valuable service to the community with their participation."

The Blue Ribbon panel is expected to publish a report by the end of June.