ities all over the world — and we quickly were able to make sure that we used our procurement facilities to then connect those doctors … to get PPE in the best possible way . We couldn ’ t manufacture all of that , but we were using our resources to get those connected back to the doctors .
We established a grant program for our doctors , and we ’ re providing them with cash payments of up to $ 10,000 to help offset expenses and financial hardships caused by the pandemic . … We know their practice patterns changed . We know the number of patients they ’ re seeing has changed . We know their protocols have changed . We know the ways they interact with their members have changed , and the cost of their materials may have changed . … They do not need to provide us with any reimbursement . This isn ’ t a loan . This is just a way to try to give back .
We had to make some tough choices ( in responding to the pandemic ). … We said , look , we ’ re impacting people ’ s lives here . … We did have to furlough people .
We did have to relieve our temporary workers and consultants . But we went after program costs and hard costs , cut travel and stuff like that first . Ultimately , we did have to have a reduction in force for some people . But , again , we did it with kindness and respect and gave them the best possible career transition ... and we ’ ve been able to even hire some of these people back in the last few months , given the fact that our business has ticked back up .
You ’ re involved with the Greater Sacramento Economic Council . How can the Capital Region drive innovation and economic development ?
I ’ ll be chair in July of 2021 . … One of the reasons we ’ re headquartered here is we can attract and retain great talent here . … We ’ re seeing that talent from the Bay Area is moving here , which is awesome … and you think about the diversity here and how dynamic we are as a region , the operating costs for businesses compared
to other parts of California . Our quality of life is really great . … When you think about the innovation that ’ s being sparked here because of companies like VSP , because of UC Davis or Sutter ( Health ) and Dignity ( Health ), you ’ re seeing this focus on health care grown here in the region — ( about ) 280,000 jobs are connected to health care and life sciences . … I ’ m excited about Aggie Square . I ’ m excited about what we ’ re doing with the California Mobility Center . … One of the great programs that GSEC and a lot of the community leaders have jumped on is this digital upskilling initiative . It ’ s a way of upskilling and retraining disadvantaged and displaced workers from a digital capabilities perspective . … It ’ s really about inclusion and equity and building on ( the Sacramento region ’ s ) economic resiliency .
Sena Christian is managing editor of Comstock ’ s . Online at www . senachristian . com and on Twitter @ SenaCChristian .
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