News List

Director's Message

Colleagues:

One of the great joys of my job as CEO of Contra Costa Health is telling people about the great work we do, and I'm thrilled to share some positive news.

Thanks to the hard work, dedication and technical skill of many of our staff, Detention Health, Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, Behavioral Health, and Contra Costa Health Plan have earned high praise in recent weeks from regulators and accreditors conducting comprehensive audits of our services.

Most recently, staff in Detention Health underwent a mental health monitoring survey from Jan. 30 - Feb. 2. Surveyors looked at established metrics to ensure people who are incarcerated get the same level of quality care as anyone in our communities.

Detention Health staff are also preparing for a medical health audit in April. I'm grateful to our amazing staff who work daily to ensure we're meeting survey metrics every single day. Their efforts ensure that people in detention are getting proper care and have healthier outcomes while incarcerated.

After a rigorous, unannounced on-site review during the week of Jan, 23 Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and our Health Centers & Clinics received a gold seal of approval from The Joint Commission, showing our strong commitment to health, safety and wellness, and to advancing equity in all we do.

During the five-day review, seven surveyors visited Regional Medical Center, 10 health centers, two school-based clinics, and a dental clinic. They looked at our practices and evaluated our performance, making sure we met hundreds of quality and safety measures. CCH not only performed better than most organizations, but also better than we did during our 2019 review.

Just the week before, our Behavioral Health division underwent an annual external quality review, required for all county mental health plans by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

More than 90 staff members and contracting providers participated in the 2-day event, and we earned high praise for our preparation and participation.

Contra Costa Health Plan, meanwhile, is now completing its accreditation process with the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), which last year recognized CCHP as among the best Medi-Cal HMOs in California for patient experience and quality of care.

During a recent survey, the surveyors were really impressed – they identified dedicated and knowledgeable staff, staying power in the community, clinical documentation and our integrated delivery system among CCHP's strengths.

As a nurse, I know it's difficult to accommodate this kind of review while continuing to provide care and service to community members. All of these were truly team efforts, and I am proud of how consistently the inclusive, collaborative culture and compassion of our staff shone through in each case.

I want to leave you with a few of comments from the Joint Commission survey team:

"You have very committed staff that exemplifies your work in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility."

"There are publishable practices happening here, and I will carry what I saw forever."

"Every organization is required to do what you're already doing. You ought to teach the country what you're doing here."

Thank you for your efforts to make these efforts a success. Congratulations to everyone involved.

With deep appreciation,

Anna M. Roth RN, MS, MPH
CEO, Contra Costa Health

Appointment Scheduling Now Available For Immunization Clinics

People can now schedule appointments at our weekly Immunization-Only Clinics on our online vaccine scheduling page or by calling 925-608-5350.

These clinics offer all routine vaccines, including school-required shots, as well as vaccines for COVID and Mpox.

The immunization clinics primarily serve the uninsured and patients with Medi-Cal or CCHP. People with private insurance should see their regular provider.

The clinics previously were drop-in only. Drop-ins are still welcome, although priority is given to people with appointments, so scheduling is encouraged.

Black History Month

Every February, Black History Month is a time Contra Costa Health honors and celebrates Black individuals' accomplishments and contributions throughout history.

It's also a time we recognize the health challenges and inequities that Black people in our communities still face today. That is why CCH is committed to prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of our work year-round.

We are proud to continue this work while celebrating Black History Month. Here are some events taking place across CCH and our communities this month:

The African American Health Conductors and Re-Entry Coordinators Program present Black History 365 Days

Feb. 17
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Pittsburg Heath Center

Feb. 22
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
West County Health Center

There will be a Black History resource and display table, games and prizes. All are welcome to stop by and join the fun.

Noon Conference Room Presents: Black History Month

Feb. 21
12:00-1:00 p.m.
CCRMC's Noon Conference Room
Lunch will be provided

COVID-19 Youth and Young Adult Ambassadors Present: Celebrating Black History Month

Feb. 25 from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
A free event for youth ages 15-24
Reserve a Spot

Black Joy Parade, Presented by Black Infant Health

Feb. 26 at 12:30 p.m.
A free, family-friendly event in Oakland featuring a parade and festival to celebrate the Black experience past, present and future
Learn more

Thank You PIT Count Volunteers

Thank you to the incredible volunteers who participated in our annual Point-in-Time Count on Jan. 25. Nearly 200 CCH staff, partners and community members canvassed neighborhoods throughout the county to provide a one-day snapshot of unsheltered Contra Costans.

Volunteers began the day at 5:30 a.m. at different sites throughout the county where they split into teams to walk or drive around their designated areas. This year's count was observational, which means volunteers digitally documented people they saw living outdoors, in cars, or other places not meant for human habitation.

Led by CCH's Health, Housing and Homeless (H3) Team and Contra Costa County's Continuum of Care, the PIT Count is an important tool for understanding the needs of people experiencing homelessness in our county.

After the initial count is finished, the H3 team enters a second phase where they interview people living in shelters.

It takes time to process and analyze the information gathered, so we won't know how this year's count compares to previous years for a few months.

Thank you again to our volunteers who help make this important day happen.

Celebrating 2023 Black History Month

CCH's Wellness Team has three exciting events during Black History Month. They're free and open to all.

Black Stories Matter: The power and tradition of storytelling in the Black/AA community as a tool to promote mental wellbeing and resilience

Speaker: Angela Towler, MSW, LCSW
Watch online

#HipHopTurnUp: Find Your Groove – Livestream Class with the Wonders

When: Feb. 15 & Feb. 22 from 12:10 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
What: Low intensity movement, HIIT exercises, light weights. Music: Afro Beats/R&B
Where: On Zoom (Passcode: wellness)

For more information, visit our Wellness page or email CCHSWellness@cchealth.org.

Milestones

Congratulations to all the Contra Costa Health employees celebrating milestone anniversaries this month. You are an essential part of the work we do.

Thank you for investing in the health and wellness of our communities.

February Milestones