PRESS RELEASE

Blue Ribbon Panel Considering the Future of St. Luke’s Digs In
To Explore Options; Adds Two Working Sessions

(San Francisco, June 23 , 2008) The Blue Ribbon Panel formed to help shape the future of California Pacific Medical Center’s (CPMC) health delivery approach South of Market, including the future of St. Luke’s, has reached the critical scenario building process in its work, and has added two working meetings, June 25th and July 1st.

“We have come a long way on an extremely difficult issue in a very short period of time,” said Panel vice-chair the Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California. “We’ve been working individually and collectively to transcend today’s complicated political situation to come to a creative solution that will serve the community for the next 30 years. It’s clear that the old work patterns of solving this problem will not work, and we applaud the Panel members in their efforts to break the mold to create a viable solution for St. Luke’s’ future.”

The sixth meeting of the Panel, held on Wednesday June 18th, was devoted to a wide range of issues impacting the viability of future scenarios for St. Luke’s. Topics covered included: modeling to determine appropriate bed count for the hospital based on needed services; physician employment and practice options as well as recruitment issues; analysis of St. Luke’s Skilled Nursing Facility and Sub Acute Program; and architectural options for building on the St. Luke’s campus.

“Our focus is to come up with a recommendation that can address both the shared and diverse interests of people and organizations involved in health care delivery in the South of Market area,” added Panel Chair Stephen Shortell, PhD, MPH and Dean of the School of Public Health at UC Berkeley. “This is a significant task and one that has stretched us all to link individual concerns together to create not just a viable but a vibrant future for St. Luke’s in the community.”

To date, the Panel has moved through an aggressive agenda of investigation, discussion and listening. Sessions have been dedicated to understanding in detail South of Market and San Francisco population trends and estimations, identifying community needs through a robust community input process resulting in the Community Outreach Taskforce’s Report and recommendations and two public comment forums, command of the health care service trends and issues, and listening to physician, nurse and health workers’ expert opinions. Ultimately the Panel’s recommendation will be based on this extensive exploration and discernment process.

In the next two meetings, June 25th (Noon to 2PM) and July 1st (6PM to 8PM), the Blue Ribbon Panel will consider a variety of specific options for St. Luke’s. Both meetings will be held at the Wilsey Conference Center at Grace Cathedral and are open to the public. The final recommendation is now scheduled to be presented to the CPMC board of directors in late July, 2008.

About the Blue Ribbon Panel
The Blue Ribbon Panel to San Francisco's California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) is an independent body created under the guidance of San Francisco Supervisor Alioto-Pier and the San Francisco Director of Health, Mitch Katz, M.D. The goal of the Blue Ribbon Panel is to articulate 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 and to meet the health needs of the communities it serves. For more information please visit http://www.cpmcbeyondmedicine.com.

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