Nurses Union Airs Concerns About Financial Stability Of Proposed Dignity Health, Catholic Health Initiatives Merger
The merger between the health systems cleared its last major regulatory hurdle when the California Department of Justice issued conditional approval the day before Thanksgiving. Dignity leaders said final closure is expected on Dec. 31.
Ventura County Star:
Dignity Health, Catholic Health Initiatives Merger Worries Nurses
As leaders of a Dignity Health system entering a mega-merger pledge the partnership won't affect jobs or patient care at hospitals in Oxnard and Camarillo, nursing union leaders worry about financial stability. "Where will the money come from?" said Adriane Carrier, nurse and union steward at Dignity-owned St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard. She predicted the financial issues of merger partner Catholic Health Initiatives will be felt in Ventura County and across a Catholic network that would instantly become one of the nation's largest systems. (Kisken, 12/10)
In other hospital and health system news —
San Jose Mercury News:
Santa Clara County Buys Hospitals For $235 Million
Santa Clara County has succeeded in buying two financially struggling hospitals for $235 million, the cornerstone of its plan to relieve overcrowding at the county-run Valley Medical Center and expand services to central San Jose and south county. The purchase came after the county entered the only bid in Friday’s auction of O’Connor Hospital in San Jose and St. Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy, including the De Paul Health Center in Morgan Hill. (Kaplan, 12/10)
The Bakersfield Californian:
Adventist Health Bakersfield Receives Major Industry Award
Scores of physicians, staffers and other employees joined members of the news media Monday morning as Adventist Health Bakersfield announced one of the most significant awards they've yet received. Leapfrog, a healthcare rating organization, has named Adventist Health Bakersfield one of only 35 hospitals in the United States and six in California to receive its Top Hospital Award. The downtown medical center is the only hospital in Kern County to receive the award. (Mayer, 12/10)
Gilroy Dispatch:
County Will Be New Saint Louise Owner
Santa Clara County emerged this month as the sole bidder for O’Connor and Saint Louise hospitals, clearing the way for the county to buy the two private hospitals for $235 million, County Executive Jeff Smith disclosed Monday. ...Once the deal closes, the 129-year-old O’Connor Hospital in San Jose and the 29-year-old Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy will join the 142-year-old Valley Medical Center in a significantly expanded publicly owned and managed health care system. (Holtzclaw, 12/11)