Mixed news on the health care front:  stem cell research is spurring advances in what's being called regenerative medicine, but California's budget crisis threatens the ability of community clinics to provide many basic services.

 

Dr. David Greenberg, Vice President of Special Research Projects for the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato.

In addition to embryonic stem cells, Dr. Greenberg says current research is also studying adult stem cells.

 

Beatrice Bostick, Executive Director of Clinic Ole in  Napa County warns that reducing health care coverage through Medi-Cal will inevitably result in greater demands for hospital emergency rooms, with no funds available for that care.

 

 

stem cells

Proposition Five on the November ballot would make widespread changes in the ways that drug users are treated by California's prison system.

 

The Yes on Prop 5 website is here.

The No on Prop 5 website is here .

There's an impartial analysis of the measure here. And you can read the actual text of Proposition 5 here. (pdf, 61 pages)

 

The September 24th forum on Proposition 5, to be held at 7 pm in the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors' chambers (575 Administration Drive, Suite 100A, Santa Rosa), is hosted and sponsored by the Sonoma County Advisory Board on Drug and Alcohol Problems.

The 1st district supervisor race in this election features the only incumbent seeking re-election, Valerie Brown, who is being challenged by environmentalist Will Pier. Bruce Robinson discusses issues facing the east county and beyond with both two candidates in this live broadcast, recorded Thursday evening, September 18th.

 

To view Valerie Brown's campaign website, click here .

To read more about Will Pier and his campaign, click here .

Fifth District Supervisor candidates Efren Carrillo and Rue Furch answered questions from KRCB News Director Bruce Robinson in a live discussion broadcast at 6:30 pm on September 11th. You can hear the whole conversation below.

Click on each candidate's photo to link to their campaign website.

 

 

How do you improve the health of a whole county? That’s the challenge that Sonoma Health Action is tackling.

The number of uninsured in Sonoma County is estimated at over 42,000 and growing. Physicians continue to leave the community and specialists are in short supply. District hospitals are struggling financially as the competitive pressures of a rapidly changing health care marketplace continue to threaten and destabilize an already broken health care system.

Sonoma County is not alone in experiencing the impacts of the health care situation. Communities throughout the state have come together seeking solutions at the local level.  On August 14, 2007, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors authorized the Department of Health Services to convene a health action council to work on improving health and health care for all Sonoma County residents.

Visit their website here .

To take the Health Action Survey, click here .

There's  a schedule of upcoming public meetings hosted by Health Action here (pdf).