SV Hospital floats plan to integrate executive leadership with UCSF

Sonoma Valley Hospital said it is considering expanding its relationship with UCSF Health, including “integrated executive leadership,” as it looks to replace outgoing CEO Kelly Mather.

Under such an agreement, Sonoma Valley Hospital’s CEO, CFO and CMO would be employed by UCSF, with the hospital reimbursing UCSF on a pass-through basis, wrote Jane Hirsch, RN, chair of the Sonoma Valley Health Care District board of directors, in a recent newsletter.

Hirsch said the CEO would still report to the healthcare district board of directors “with a dotted line to the UCSF affiliates president.” The reorganization comes as the SVH launches a search to replace Mather, who exits at the end of the year.

Sonoma Valley Hospital is already an affiliate of UCSF Health. The board discussed potentially expanding the affiliation during a September closed meeting.

In addition to the integrated executive leadership proposal, an expanded affiliation could also include the opportunity for UCSF to purchase direct services such as operations improvement, quality and regulatory issues, strategic planning and development, and marketing.

As part of the arrangement, Sonoma Valley Hospital would continue to provide IT, human resources, and facilities management.

Sonoma Valley Hospital has scheduled a community input session via Zoom videoconferencing for Oct. 13 to get feedback on the plan. The district board will consider final recommendations regarding the UCSF relationship on Nov. 5.