At Huntington Hospital, 16 Patients Were Infected With Bacteria From Dirty Scopes
Of those, 11 have since died, but only one of the death certificates listed the bacteria as the cause.
Los Angeles Times:
11 Deaths At Huntington Hospital Among Patients Infected By Dirty Scopes, City Report Says
Pasadena health officials said Wednesday that 16 patients were infected by dangerous bacteria from medical scopes at Huntington Hospital from January 2013 to August 2015, including 11 who have now died. Many of those patients were already severely ill, including some with cancer. Health officials said that only one of the 11 death certificates listed the bacteria as the cause. It was not clear if infection was a factor in any of the other deaths. (Petersen, 6/1)
In other hospital news —
The Orange County Register:
San Clemente's Saddleback Memorial Hospital Shuts Its Doors
After more than four decades of service, San Clemente’s 73-bed hospital shut down at 11:59 p.m. Monday, its owners announced. Tony Struthers, hospital administrator, said in an e-mail that the closure of Saddleback Memorial Medical Center San Clemente at 654 Camino de los Mares followed a detailed operational and patient transition plan that MemorialCare Health System worked out with state regulators and the county’s emergency medical services agency. (Swegles, 6/1)
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Sonoma West Medical Center Scales Back Revenue Forecasts
Sonoma West Medical Center has dramatically scaled back its monthly revenue forecasts as the Sebastopol hospital struggles to collect payments for medical services and become financially sustainable. The medical center, a revamped version of the failed Palm Drive Hospital, was launched last fall and has yet to turn a profit. Its operating losses for April are expected to surpass $600,000, up from an operating loss of $47,000 in March and $400,000 in February, CEO Ray Hino said. (Espinoza, 6/1)
The Desert Sun:
Health District Board Member Claims Win With CEO Departure
A Desert Healthcare District board member says his lawsuit against the district could be over soon now that district CEO Kathy Greco is out of her job. But before he drops the case, Michael Solomon and his attorney say the district must agree to back away from its claim that Solomon pay the district's legal fees of more than $32,000. (Newkirk, 6/1)