The Hospital Council Northern and Central California’s mission is to help our members to provide high quality health care and to improve the health status of the communities they serve. “Effective, Efficient, Safe, Timely, Patient Centered, Equitable and Affordable." We bring hospitals together to achieve excellent patient care and community health far beyond the capacity of individual hospitals. The Hospital Council Northern and Central California is a nonprofit hospital and health system trade association established in 1961, representing 185 hospitals in 50 of California’s 58 counties , and 13 systems— from Kern County to the Oregon border. The Hospital Council’s membership includes hospitals and health systems ranging from small, rural hospitals to large, urban medical centers, representing more than 38,000 licensed beds. The hospital members of the Hospital Council are organized by geographically defined sections, each with specially designated staff, to align opportunities for hospitals to pursue common goals and shared interests that may be county-specific and/or regional in nature. Section meetings occur routinely to allow for timely action around local issues as well as State and Federal issues with local implications. The Healthcare Foundation of Northern and Central California, the 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity supporting the Hospital Council, carries out a wide range of health care related programs.