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The Eden Township Healthcare District In The News |
Recent News from the District
November 23, 2009
ETHD Appoints New Board Member
Dr. William F. West M.D. was appointed to the Eden Township Healthcare District Board of Directors last Wednesday at an open board meeting in Hayward. The Eden Township Healthcare District Board unanimously named Dr. West to replace Dr. Walter Kran who resigned Sept. 28.
Dr. West, a semi-retired orthopedic surgeon is a forty-year resident of the District and member of the medical community. He has practiced orthopedic surgery in San Leandro and Oakland since 1966. In the past eight years he has assisted in both orthopedic and general surgery at Eden Medical Center and San Leandro Hospital. For the past ten years he was Medical Director at the Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF) in San Leandro.
“I would like to contribute to the Board’s function to meet its mission of assuring availability of medical care to citizens of the Eden Township Healthcare District.” says West.
The ETHD Board interviewed a total of seven candidates in three separate board sessions over the course of the last three weeks before selecting and appointing Dr. West.
“Dr. West stated during his interview that he ‘is for compromise and has no preconceived notions.’ He will contribute greatly to the board if he brings these principles to the table.” says Dev Mahadevan, Chief Executive Officer of Eden Township Healthcare District.
For more information contact:
Jonnie Banks, (510) 861-7613, jbanks66@sbcglobal.net
September 30, 2009
ETHD Board Member Resigns
After serving as a member of the Eden Township Healthcare District (ETHD) Board of Directors for nearly three years, Dr. Walter Kran, has resigned from his post effective September 28, 2009. Dr. Kran, a long time resident and practicing physician of San Leandro and has contributed much to the ETHD board serving on various committees and being the voice of reason during contentious debates.
“We appreciate all of Dr. Kran’s valuable contributions he has made over the years as a board member and wish him the best on any future endeavors,” says Dev Mahadevan, Chief Executive Officer of Eden Township Healthcare District.
The ETHD Board has 60 days to appoint a person to fill the vacancy left by Dr. Kran. However, in accordance with state posting requirements, (California Government Code Section 1780), the District office is providing written notification of the resignation and vacancy to the general public and the County Elections Official (the Registrar of Voters in Alameda County) today, September 30, 2009. The ETHD Board will NOT be able to appoint anyone for at least 15 days after the posting date.
If the event the ETHD Board of Directors cannot appoint someone within sixty days, then the Board of Supervisors may appoint someone within 90 days (of the date of the vacancy) or call a special election.
For more information contact: Jonnie Banks, (510) 861-7613, jbanks66@sbcglobal.net
New Grant Cycle Open
Non-profit organizations seeking funding for new or expanding health and wellness services can now apply for a grant from the Eden Township Healthcare District’s Community Health Fund. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2010 at 2:30 p.m.
The Community Healthy Fund grants are awarded twice during the District's fiscal year, which will run from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010, allowing the Board members time to conduct interviews, site visits and a thorough review of the programs seeking large grants.
The Community Health Fund was created after the 1998 affiliation between the Eden Township Healthcare District and Sutter Health. As a result of this affiliation, Eden Township Healthcare District established a permanent endowment fund to benefit the health needs of residents of the District, which comprises San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Hayward and Castro Valley.
The board established the fund for local programs that impact health education, health promotion, access to health services, health maintenance, disease prevention programs and services, and efforts to develop and test new approaches to solving health care problems.
A portion of the annual earnings from the $30 million Community Health Fund is reinvested in the fund to promote its growth. The remainder of the interest is granted to health-related programs and services.
The District has given more than $5 million in grants from the Community Health Fund since 1999 to organizations serving residents of the District.
Qualifying organizations must complete a formal grant proposal and may apply using the “short form” for grants up to $5,000, or a more detailed grant application for funding up to $75,000.
District Announces Land Purchase in Dublin
Property Purchase Expands District’s Reach
The Eden Township Healthcare District has announced the purchase of Dublin Gateway Medical Center, a three-building medical office site in Dublin. The site currently has two office buildings open and occupied, with a third site yet to be developed.
The District has been interested in the Dublin Gateway development since August 2005, when Eden Medical Center leased a 59,000 square foot medical office building on the property. This lease was later assumed by Palo Alto Medical Foundation in September 2006.
“The board of directors had the opportunity to purchase the property earlier this year, in the fastest growing community in Alameda County—a community with few medical services at the time,” said Dr. Rajendra Ratnesar, chair of the District board. “We believe that having a presence in the Dublin community placed the District in a stronger position to support the Castro Valley campus while expanding medical services for residents of eastern Castro Valley and Dublin.”
While plans for the third building are not developed, the site is zoned for use as medical office space and for an acute care hospital. The District will continue to explore all options for the site, with the primary goals to serve the needs of local residents while supporting the services of Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley and San Leandro.
In November 2007, the District and Sutter Health negotiated an agreement to rebuild Eden Medical Center and invest in the San Leandro Hospital Campus. The agreement did not include the Dublin property.
Dublin Gateway Medical Plaza is located at Tassajara Road and Dublin Boulevard in Dublin. There are currently two office buildings on the site, including the offices of Palo Alto Medical Foundation. The third building site, now owned by the District, has been zoned for a 100-bed hospital or other medical use.
Landmark Agreement Reached
District and Sutter Health Look to Future Hospital
The Eden Township Healthcare District and Sutter Health have announced an agreement to build a new hospital to replace Eden Medical Center and continue acute care services at San Leandro Hospital. Sutter Health will fund the development and construction of a new 130-bed hospital on Eden’s Castro Valley campus. This is the largest investment in Eden Medical Center’s history, and the largest for a healthcare facility in central Alameda County, totaling more than $300 million.
Sutter Health’s investment in the construction of the new hospital includes related improvements and the demolition of the old hospital once services are transferred to the new facility.
Sutter Health will also commit to the continuation of general acute care and emergency services at Eden’s San Leandro Hospital Campus until at least June 2009. Over the next two years, Eden Medical Center and Sutter Health will work with local physicians and providers to enhance services and improve the financial performance of the hospital.