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HOME > ABOUT > PRESS > KAISER GRANTS $2.9 MILLION
Article published - November 15, 2007
Credit: NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL
BREAKING NEWS: Kaiser Permanente grants $2.9 million to Sonoma County residency program
BY D. ASHLEY VERRILL
SANTA ROSA, – The consortium responsible for the Santa Rosa Family Residency Program received a $2.9 million grant from Kaiser Permanente to support the long-time physician training program.
The Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency Consortium was formed last year when Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa decided it could no longer support the residency program. The nonprofit consortium of hospitals, physicians and other groups applied for the Kaiser grant to pay residents’ salaries while they make up losses incurred while Sutter ran the program.
Sutter also operated the Family Practice Center where the program is primarily located, and operation of that facility was taken over by Southwest Community Health Center Monday.
The residency program and clinic were in danger of closing after Sutter continued to report losses in excess of $1 million.
Consortium Board Chairman Dr. Helen Hammer, who also works for Kaiser of Santa Rosa, applied for the Kaiser grant this summer and was told this week the consortium was approved for the grant. Ms. Hammer said she expects the grant will be renewed annually.
Kaiser regularly funds residency programs, and the grant will also pay for a graduate medical education coordinator and some faculty development and educational and office materials for the consortium.
Sutter will maintain presence in the program as a member of the nonprofit consortium that also includes San Francisco State University, Southwest Community Health Center, Sonoma County Department of Health, Kaiser and Memorial Hospital.
Sutter announced last month that it will provide $1.25 million to the Family Practice Center while it goes through the Southwest transition. The capital will enable tenant improvements to the Chanate Road facility as well as purchase of medical and information technology equipment.
The residency program has roots in Sonoma County dating to 1938. Of 264 graduates of the program over the last 25 years, 82 are in private practice in Sonoma County, 29 serve in community clinics or public health and 25 are on the staff at Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center.
“In addition to training top quality physicians, the residents care for large numbers of uninsured and underinsured community members,” said Judy Coffey, vice president and Marin-Sonoma area manager for Kaiser.
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