California’s Emergency Department Visits Rose More Than 40 Percent In 10-Year Span
An increasingly aging population and a lack of hospital beds are contributing to the rise in numbers, said Renee Hsia, the author of the report. On top of that, emergency rooms are holding high numbers of mentally ill patients and people abusing drugs and alcohol, she said
Capital Public Radio:
Emergency Room Visits, Wait Times On The Rise In California
New data from the California Health Care Foundation shows that emergency department visits rose 44 percent from 2006 to 2016. California patients who get admitted to the hospital spend about an hour longer in the emergency room than patients nationally. (Caiola, 8/9)
In other news from across the state —
KPBS:
State Still Seeking Vendor For Medical Interpretation Study Nearly Two Years Later
A state agency is searching for a company to evaluate medical interpretation services for Medi-Cal patients nearly two years after the Legislature approved the study. San Diego's immigrant communities, including in City Heights, have complained the current process is inadequate. (Mento, 8/9)
Sacramento Bee:
Sacramento Welfare Fraud Office Tracks Drivers With License Plate Data
It is rare for a welfare agency to use data collected by automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras, which snap photos of all license plates from street poles and police cars as vehicles drive by, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a civil liberties group. The organization is particularly concerned that the Sacramento County agency violated state law by accessing the database without rules in place for its use. (Browning, 8/10)