California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of April 24, 2009
California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco
On Wednesday, officials at California Pacific Medical Center confirmed reports that the hospital would eliminate 200 jobs and take other steps to cut costs by about $30 million, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
CPMC spokesperson Kevin McCormack said the hospital is trying to minimize cuts to patient-care personnel (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 4/22).
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
The Palo Alto Medical Foundation has reduced the size of its proposed Sunnyvale medical facility, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
The foundation will eliminate plans for a vision center to reduce the size of the facility by 30,000 square feet.
Neighbors had expressed concerns about the building's size and aesthetics, as well as the impact it would have on traffic and pedestrian safety (Kraatz, San Jose Mercury News, 4/17).
Parkview Community Hospital, Riverside
Registered nurses represented by the United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals have approved a contract agreement with Parkview Community Hospital, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.
The proposed contract would restore a 5% wage cut that the hospital adopted last year, according to union press secretary Eve Rojas.
The contract proposal now goes to the hospital board for a vote (Katzanek, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 4/22).
Valley Health System, Hemet
Last month, Valley Health System lost more than $830,000, the Press-Enterprise reports.
Valley Health System includes Hemet Valley Medical Center and Menifee Valley Medical Center.
Since the end of December 2008, the hospital has reported $3.7 million in losses. Records show the hospital had projected a profit of $3.2 million during that period.
Officials said they are looking at the district's systems and data to find out if they could improve cost control procedures and increase revenue (Hines, Riverside Press Enterprise, 4/20). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.