California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of August 3, 2012
California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco
On Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to delay until at least Nov. 20 a decision on whether it will approve the final environmental impact report for a construction proposal by California Pacific Medical Center, the San Francisco Chronicle reports (Wildermuth, San Francisco Chronicle, 8/1).
The city is negotiating a $2.5 billion construction plan by CPMC, an affiliate of Sutter Health. The plan includes building a new 555-bed facility in Cathedral Hill, building a new medical office building in Cathedral Hill and rebuilding St. Luke's Hospital in the Mission District.
In April, the San Francisco Planning Commission approved an environmental impact study for the construction plan. However, a coalition that includes the California Nurses Association, San Francisco neighborhood groups and housing advocates appealed the decision, arguing that the study is flawed because it does not properly consider the effect a large hospital would have on the city's traffic, pollution and housing (California Healthline, 7/19).
Sam Singer, a Sutter spokesperson, said that although the hospital group would have preferred the city to approve the report, "the vote to delay gives both sides an opportunity to sit down and find a solution" (San Francisco Chronicle, 8/1).
Desert Regional Medical Center, Palm Springs
On Wednesday, Desert Regional Medical Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate new services offered at its Advanced Primary Stroke Center, the Palm Springs Desert Sun reports.
The center is equipped with new technology -- such as specialized catheters and a biplane angiographic X-ray system -- and it is offering a new fellowship program in interventional neurology under a collaboration between the hospital and the Arrowhead Neuroscience Foundation (Kaufmann, Palm Springs Desert Sun, 7/31).
Pomona Valley Hospital
The California Department of Public Health is investigating allegations that Pomona Valley Hospital might have conducted medical experiments on patients without their knowledge or consent, KPCC's "KPCC News" reports.
A CDPH spokesperson said investigators are examining claims that the hospital implanted more than a dozen patients with bone growth products that FDA has not approved for widespread use.
A statement from the hospital said that it "strongly dispute[s]" the allegations and that it will "cooperate fully" with the investigation (O'Neill, "KPCC News," KPCC, 7/30).
San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital, Banning
San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital has implemented a new infant monitoring system that aims to safeguard against infant abduction, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.
The "Safe Place" infant security system -- made by RF Technologies -- uses a band placed on the infant's ankle to track movement (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 7/30).
Sonoma Valley Hospital
All 12 board members of the charitable foundation that serves Sonoma Valley Hospital have resigned over fundraising conflicts, Payers & Providers reports.
According to the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, Sonoma Valley officials aim to raise nearly $40 million to build a replacement facility for the 83-bed hospital. Over the past year, the hospital has raised about $4.1 million for the effort, while the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation has raised about $250,000.
Bonnie Durrance -- a hospital spokesperson -- said that the foundation has raised funding "in the thousands," noting, "Our needs are now in the millions."
Carolyn Stone -- who resigned as executive chair of the foundation board -- said, "The resignations were in response to the management of the Sonoma Valley hospital imposing strict restraints upon the activities of the foundation and requiring the foundation to give up its development activities on behalf of the hospital" (Payers & Providers, 7/26).
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.