Santa Clara County Mental Health Call Center/ Suicide and Crisis Line

The new ad campaign for VMC

Fellow Employees:

As many of us know from the direct experience of our family, friends, and loved ones, the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center plays a pivotal role in the health and wellbeing of the entire county community.  Over 8000 of our fellow county employees are delivering outstanding patient care day in and day out, in addition to leading-edge research and medical innovation, with centers of excellence in burn treatment, diabetes, trauma, rehabilitation, children’s and women’s health.  It’s one of the many shining examples of what makes those who live and work in Santa Clara County proud.

For the first time in its 140-year history, the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center is launching an advertising campaign to raise awareness of the fact that our public healthcare system is providing the highest levels of medical care to all segments of our county community.  Our campaign messages will be promoted in commercials, radio, transit shelters, billboards, cinemas, the San Jose Airport, on VTA buses, print ads, and the Internet (you can view the TV ad here).  As you’ll see, the campaign features a provocative "go public" theme, which conveys our public foundation while illuminating themes familiar to many who live here in the Silicon Valley. 

In a very real sense, “Go Public” applies to us all in whatever capacity we serve on the County of Santa Clara team.   We will be doing more to promote all that we do as we move forward, proudly conveying, as the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center has just done, the value we provide to our community.  

Jeffrey V. Smith M.D., J.D.

County Executive

Our New Brand at Work

As part of moving from Mental Health Services to Behavioral Health Services (combining with Drug and Alcohol Services) is making a new brand.  This has included redoing our traditional logo.  These gifts were waiting for us one day.  Everyone in Behavioral health received the same.

Safety Seminar 2016

I too the opportunity to attend the Safety Seminar presented by Santa Clara County to its employees.  It was at the Santa Clara Convention Center.   I attended break out sessions on surviving an active shooter situation, and on taking care of yourself.  The big theme for me was taking time to breathe.  The keynote speaker talked about breathing, the breakout speaker, and the booth by County Wise included information on breathing.
The other theme was "coming home."  Being aware of your environment, and setting limits as needed, so as to come home in the evening.  This includes trusting your instincts.  Many at active shooter situations do not believe what they are seeing, and so stay around to become a victim.  The point is to get away as quickly as you can; to be aware of alternative exits, to come home at the end of the day.

awards ceremony

E-Training: Hazardous Materials

The most important detail here is to be aware if you work with hazardous material you are entitled to see the Material Safety Data Sheets.  These sheets include identification of the material, identifies the manufacturer, safe handling, description and what to do for crisis situations.  I don't work directly with these materials but they are around at home and at work.  It is best to know what you are doing when using them

**E-Training: Infectious Diseases

The things I took from this training is that the two most important methods to avoid spreading germs and disease is to wash you hands frequently and the second is to cough correctly; not into you hand but into the crook of your elbow.  Being aware of these two measure will go a long way to prevent the spread of disease.