California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of June 27, 2014

Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Children's Hospital Los Angeles has launched a program aimed at stemming mental health problems in older children by improving their lives at home during early childhood, KPCC's "KPCC News" reports.

Under the program, the hospital sends therapists to homes of hundreds of children that have shown symptoms of anxiety, stress and trauma. The counselors teach parents how to reduce stress in the home, as well as how to meet and comprehend their children's emotional needs (Fernandes, "KPCC News," KPCC Radio, 6/23).

Mercy Medical Center Redding

St. Elizabeth Community Hospital in Red Bluff and Mercy Medical Center Mt. Shasta is partnering with Mercy Medical Center Redding's Primary Stroke Center to offer telehealth care for stroke patients, the Red Bluff Daily News reports.

According to the Daily News, the technology connects patients with stroke-like symptoms to an on-call stoke specialist at the Dignity Health Neurological Institute in Sacramento. The specialists view the patient through a camera, conduct assessments and exams, talk with patients and providers and recommend a treatment plan (Red Bluff Daily News, 6/21).

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Foundation, San Jose

The Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Foundation has launched a $25 million fundraising campaign to create a Women and Children's Center at the facility, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

The proposed center will combine VMC's pediatric, postnatal and maternity services into its existing main hospital building (Seipel, San Jose Mercury News, 6/25).

Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla

In an email  to Scripps Research Institute President Michael Marletta, the institute's faculty leaders objected to a proposed merger or takeover of the facility by the University of Southern California, U-T San Diego reports.

In the email, faculty members said such a deal could "destroy much of what has been built and what we and others in the community value so much." They said that while a merger under specific circumstances could potentially benefit the institute, details of the proposed USC deal "are not even close to what it would take to build faculty support" and that "remaining independent is a far better option" (Robbins/Fikes, U-T San Diego, 6/21).

Sutter Health

Sutter Health has announced the launch of a fully integrated health information exchange system in partnership with Orion Health, according to a Sutter Health release.

The company said the system will allow physicians and hospitals both inside and outside of its network to share clinical data securely (Sutter Health release, 6/25).

Washington Hospital Healthcare System, Fremont

An Alameda County grand jury has ruled that the Washington Hospital Healthcare System violated California's Brown Act, which requires open meetings, the Daily Review/Inside Bay Area News reports.

In a report, the jury said that the health system's "lack of transparency has invited criticism that the district has strayed from the standards expected of a public agency." According to the Daily Review/Inside Bay Area News, the grand jury noted the health system's tendency to hold closed meetings, not publicize reports and inadequately respond to public records inquiries (Parr, Daily Review/Inside Bay Area News, 6/24).