By Jennifer Economy • Health/Medical 0 Comments

Central California Blood Center starts experimental treatment to fight COVID-19

The Central California Blood Center announced that they will be the first blood center in the United States to produce pathogen-reduced plasma from patients who have successfully recovered from the Coronavirus. The Blood Center said people who recover from the Coronavirus infection have developed antibodies to the virus that remain in the plasma portion of their blood. The experimental treatment is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used on an emergency basis.

https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/central-california-blood-center-starts-experimental-treatment-to-fight-covid-19/

By Jennifer Economy • Health/Medical • Top Stories 0 Comments

Report: Visalia’s Kaweah Delta hospital generates $1 billion a year locally

Kaweah Delta medical center in Visalia does more than provide healthcare services to the region and the Central Valley — it also infuses nearly $1 billion into the local economy each year, according to a new study. Kaweah Delta makes an estimated $973 million annual economic impact and accounts for $550.4 million or 3.2 percent of Tulare County’s economy, says an economic impact analysis commissioned by the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation and prepared by Impact DataSource of Austin, Texas.

https://thesungazette.com/article/health/2020/04/01/kaweah-delta-generates-1b-in-local-economy/

By Jennifer Economy • Education • Health/Medical • New Developments 0 Comments

Plans for Valley medical program moving closer to fruition, says Assemblyman Gray

Assembly member Adam Gray, D-Merced, this week convened the San Joaquin Valley Coalition for Medical Education at UC Merced to discuss burgeoning plans of a San Joaquin Valley medical school. The program’s plans have been on the drawing board for decades, but until recently they’ve been largely conceptual. Gray and other program proponents were recently given a boost of $15 million from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who included those funds as part of his proposed 2020-21 state budget.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/plans-for-valley-medical-program-moving-closer-to-fruition-says-assemblyman-gray/ar-BB103IYh

By Jennifer Economy • Health/Medical 0 Comments

Comprehensive Heart Care at Doctors Medical Center Unifies Under New Cardiovascular Institute

Today marks the unveiling of the Cardiovascular Institute of Doctors Medical Center, a single, identifiable name that integrates the comprehensive heart services provided by Doctors Medical Center under one brand. “Unifying our cardiovascular services under one umbrella name shows the communities we serve that we offer advanced, comprehensive heart care right in their backyard. There is no need to travel to surrounding areas for care that is provided here in Modesto,” said Warren Kirk, CEO of Doctors Medical Center. “Our goal is to continue providing seamless heart care for the patients we treat every day.”

https://www.dmc-modesto.com/news/newsroom/comprehensive-heart-care-at-doctors-medical-center-unifies-under-new-cardiovascular-institute

By Jennifer Education • Health/Medical • Workforce 0 Comments

Taft College receives $156,000 gift from Chevron to expand Allied Health and Sciences Lab

Chevron will present a $156,000 check to Taft College to help fund the development of the Allied Health and Sciences Lab, specifically by providing medical equipment for expansion of its anatomy and physiology curriculum. This donation will strengthen Taft College’s collaboration with Kern County schools by expanding classes for science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers.

https://www.bakersfield.com/news/taft-college-receives-gift-from-chevron-to-expand-allied-health/article_ac3dd1a4-4235-11ea-83bf-77f8eb50d861.html#:~:text=Taft%20College%20receives%20%24156%2C000%20gift%20from%20Chevron,Allied%20Health%20and%20Sciences%20Lab&text=Chevron%20will%20present%20a%20%24156%2C000,its%20anatomy%20and%20physiology%20curriculum.

By Jennifer Economy • Education • Health/Medical 0 Comments

Newsom budget includes $15 million for UC Merced, Valley medical education

A building lighting ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the University of California, Merced 2020 Project on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018.  The Central Valley’s physician deficiency may get a needed boost from the proposed 2020-21 California budget. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s suggested budget offers $15 million in ongoing funding to expand medical education at UC San Francisco School of Medicine Fresno Branch Campus in collaboration with UC Merced.

https://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/local/article239253088.html

By Jennifer Economy • Health/Medical 0 Comments

Valley Children’s Earns 2019 Leapfrog Top Children’s Hospital Award For Outstanding Quality And Safety

Valley Children’s was named a Top Children’s Hospital in the nation by The Leapfrog Group for its excellence in patient safety and quality of care. The Top Children’s Hospital award is one of the most competitive honors American hospitals can receive and Valley Children’s is one out of only 10 children’s hospitals in the country that achieved this honor. “Every family who entrusts Valley Children’s to care for their children expects the safest, highest quality care. And we have set the expectation for ourselves to deliver the nation’s best, safest and highest quality care right here in the Central Valley,” says Valley Children’s President and CEO Todd Suntrapak. “This award is a testament to the capabilities, dedication and commitment of our entire staff – and is yet another reason why Valley Children’s is the best place for children’s healthcare in the region.” To qualify for the Top Hospital distinction, hospitals must rank at the top among peers in the 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Survey, which assesses hospital performance on the highest known standards for quality and patient safety.

https://www.valleychildrens.org/news/news-story?&news=201

 

By Jennifer Commercial • E-Commerce • Economy • Food Processing • Health/Medical • Logistics • Manufacturing 0 Comments

FRESNO COUNTY ECONOMIC FORECAST: INTERNATIONAL INTEREST COMES ROLLING IN

https://thebusinessjournal.com/fresno-county-economic-forecast-international-interest-comes-rolling-in/

By Jennifer Education • Health/Medical • Workforce 0 Comments

New Director of Medical Education Ready to Unleash Valley’s Untapped Potential

Dr. Thelma Hurd joins UC Merced as the Director of Medical Education after working as a clinician, public health researcher and translational scientist. Dr. Thelma Hurd’s journey in medicine has taken her from New Jersey to Nigeria, with stops in Texas and Buffalo. Along the way, she gathered experience as a clinician, public health researcher and translational scientist. Her proficiency in these crucial areas has led Hurd to UC Merced, where she became the university’s director of medical education last month.

https://news.ucmerced.edu/news/2019/new-medical-director-ready-unleash-valley%E2%80%99s-untapped-potential

By Jennifer Economy • Education • Health/Medical • New Location 0 Comments

What’s needed for Valley medical school? About $25 million, feeder programs and more

The San Joaquin Valley Coalition for Medical Education held a meeting Wednesday October 16, 2019 at the Doctor Medical Center conference center in Modesto, Calif. to discuss a medical school serving the Valley. KEN CARLSON KCARLSON@MODBEE.COM A coalition for medical education convened in Modesto on Wednesday and discussed what it will take to establish a University of California medical school serving the San Joaquin Valley. Once proposed as a medical school at UC Merced, the plan would commit UC facilities in Merced and Fresno for a medical school to address a severe physician shortage in the Valley.