PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dr. Lydia N. Collins
Public Information Officer,
Ventura County Health Care Agency
(805) 339 – 1179
December 12, 2025
Ventura County Health Care Agency Earns Gold Coast Health Plan’s Top Honor for Quality Care
VENTURA, Calif. – Dec. 12, 2025 – The County of Ventura Health Care Agency (HCA) has been awarded the prestigious Quality Hero Award 2025 by Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP). This top honor recognizes the HCA for its outstanding performance in meeting and exceeding key quality metrics in healthcare, particularly for Medi-Cal patients.
HCA achieved the highest aggregate performance across the 18 State of California quality metrics, outshining other health providers. This achievement highlights the agency’s consistent commitment to delivering high-quality care. To earn this distinction, HCA met the minimum performance level for 17 out of 18 critical quality metrics, which include:
- Children’s Health: Well child visits, immunizations, lead screening, fluoride varnish, and developmental screening.
- Chronic Disease Management: Diabetes control, blood pressure management.
- Cancer Screening: Breast and cervical cancer screenings.
- Care Coordination: Follow-up care after emergency department visits for substance use or mental health issues.
Additionally, HCA exceeded the 90th percentile compared to Medi-Cal providers nationwide in several key areas, including:
- Chlamydia screening in women
- Well child visits by 30 months of age
- Developmental screenings
- Timely postpartum care
- Breast cancer screening
Dr. Rachel Stern, Chief Medical Quality Officer at Ventura County Ambulatory Care, expressed her gratitude and highlighted the importance of quality care for the community. “At Ventura County Health Care Agency, evidence-based preventive care is an integral part of our daily operations,” said Dr. Stern. “We work closely with patients and staff to remove barriers to care and improve access to essential services such as cancer screenings, chronic disease management, pregnancy care, and vaccinations. Our proactive approach has enabled us to detect illnesses early, prevent serious conditions, and save lives. We thank Gold Coast Health Plan for their continued partnership, and we deeply appreciate our front-line staff’s dedication to making this possible.”
In 2024 alone, Ventura County Health Care Agency (HCA) facilitated 2,750 more well-child visits, 700 additional breast cancer screenings, and 850 more cervical cancer screenings compared to 2022. This reflects the agency’s ongoing commitment to improving patient care and outcomes.
The Quality Hero Award from Gold Coast Health Plan is one of several significant quality recognitions the Health Care Agency has received this year, joining distinctions such as the HRSA Bronze Quality Badge, ACS NSQIP® All Cases Meritorious, and the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus award. Collectively, these and other accolades highlight the HCA’s ongoing commitment to achieving and surpassing healthcare quality standards for the benefit of patients and the community.
“The Gold Coast Health Plan’s Top Honor Quality Hero Award affirms our commitment to providing the highest level of care for Ventura County residents,” said Dr. Vikram Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Ventura County Ambulatory Care. “Quality measures are the foundation of safe, effective, and patient-centered care, and we remain dedicated to continuously improving our services to ensure better outcomes and fewer complications for our patients.”
Quality healthcare standards are designed to improve patient outcomes, reduce the risk of mistakes, and help individuals recover faster. By adhering to these measures, the Health Care Agency ensures that patients receive the care they deserve, not just for today, but for their long-term health as well.
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About Ventura County Health Care Agency:
The Ventura County Health Care Agency provides comprehensive, high-quality healthcare services to the residents of Ventura County, with a focus on accessible and preventive care. The agency is committed to improving community health by delivering effective, patient-centered services and addressing health disparities within the region.
About Gold Coast Health Plan:
Gold Coast Health Plan proudly serves about 240,000 Medi-Cal members in Ventura County through its network of primary care physicians, specialists, behavioral health providers and hospitals. Since its founding in 2011, Gold Coast Health Plan has been committed to providing access to high-quality care and improving its members’ health, including 1 in 3 county residents, 1 in 6 seniors, and 1 in 2 children under the age of 5.