There’s An OB-GYN Shortage In Sacramento, And An Aging Workforce Isn’t Helping Matters
The problem is nationwide, but Sacramento ranked seventh out of 15 for metropolitan areas nationwide with the lowest percentage of OB-GYNs younger than 40. In other news from across the state: fire safety measures, pay raises for safety workers, homeless job programs, and more.
Sacramento Bee:
Sacramento Has One Of Nation’s Highest Risks For OB-GYN Shortage, Report Warns
A study released earlier this year by Doximity, the nation’s largest online network for health care providers, ranked Sacramento ninth in a list of the top 10 metropolitan areas in the nation with the highest risk of an OB-GYN shortage. The online network uses a score system to assess the severity of the lack of providers in 50 of the nation’s metropolitan areas, taking into consideration the age of practicing providers and the ratio of births to OB-GYNs. (Holzer, 7/18)
KQED:
S.F. Landlords Back Fire Safety Measure That Could Force Installation Of Sprinklers
The industry association that represents San Francisco's landlords is backing a new Board of Supervisors proposal that would give city inspectors the power to force scofflaw property owners to install or upgrade fire alarm and sprinkler systems. Supervisor Hillary Ronen on Tuesday unveiled a set of measures that would allow the city's Fire and Building Inspection departments to order landlords who have failed to correct two or more safety violations to retrofit their buildings with sprinklers and alarms or improve existing systems. (Golderg, 7/17)
Ventura County Star:
County Moves Forward On Pay Raises For Safety Workers
Labor contracts containing raises and increased health benefits for Ventura County firefighters, probation officers and jail workers won preliminary approval Tuesday from the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. The deals are the last ones of close to a dozen pacts with 8,000 county employees that have been struck in the past year and a half. No new negotiations are scheduled until late next year, county Human Resources Director Shawn Atin said. (Wilson, 7/17)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Bakersfield Homeless Center Job Program Expands As Word Of Success Spreads
Since its inception in 2009, the Bakersfield Homeless Center’s Job Development Program has grown like a fledgling startup. From its origins as a nonprofit partner with the city of Bakersfield, the Homeless Center is branching out into the private sector, winning contracts from multiple local companies to have crews clean up corporate property or do odd jobs such as painting. It started with a single contract to sort green waste for the city’s recycling program. (Morgen, 7/17)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Cancer Took San Diego Woman's Tongue. Doctors, A Leg Muscle And Her Fierce Will Created A New One
The cure sounded nearly as bad as the cancer. To save Cynthia Zamora’s life, Dr. Joseph Califano would have to cut out nearly all of her tongue, eliminating her ability to eat, drink or speak. Moreover, the operation would be followed by months of sharp pain and stomach-roiling nausea. This dire prognosis came with a glimmer of hope. Specialists at UC San Diego insisted they could create a new tongue for Zamora. All they needed was a chunk of her leg. (Rowe, 7/17)
San Diego Union-Tribune:
$1M Award For Salk Scientist Janelle Ayres, Who Befriends Our Microbial Enemies
Janelle Ayres, a rising star at the Salk Institute, has collected her second honor in a month — one which brings $1 million to fund her microbial research. The grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation will allow Ayres to study alternative ways to cope with dangerous bacterial and viral infections. These include sepsis and influenza. Both are badly in need of better therapies. Ayres knows this personally — her father died of sepsis. (Fikes, 7/17)
KPBS:
San Diego Partners With Region's Health Care Provider For Free Wellness Workshops
Workshops on how to eat better, exercise and reduce stress will be held at libraries and recreation centers in San Diego. The wellness classes are made possible thanks to a partnership between Sharp Healthcare and the city of San Diego. (Hoffman, 7/17)