California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of February 1, 2013

Saint Agnes Medical Center, Fresno

Last week, officials at Saint Agnes Medical Center announced that the 436-bed hospital is laying off 75 employees, the Fresno Bee reports.

Officials said the layoffs are in response to fewer patients, changes in reimbursements, implementation of the Affordable Care Act, an increase in charity care and the economic downturn.

Kelley Sanchez -- a Saint Agnes spokesperson -- said the hospital began notifying affected employees on Jan. 23, but she declined to say which positions were affected (Anderson, Fresno Bee, 1/24).

San Ramon Regional Medical Center

Last week, John Muir Health said that it has agreed to purchase a 49% stake in San Ramon Regional Medical Center from Tenet Healthcare for $100 million, the San Francisco Business Times reports.

Both entities suggested that the proposed joint venture would allow John Muir and San Ramon Regional to function independently while helping them provide patients with more integrated care (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 1/24).

The organizations hope to complete the purchase -- which depends on approval from several regulatory agencies -- by March 31 (Kleffman, Contra Costa Times, 1/24).

St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital, Camarillo; St. John's Regional Medical Center, Oxnard

St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital and St. John's Regional Medical Center -- both operated by Dignity Health -- have awarded 14 local not-for-profit organizations grants totaling $172,109, the Ventura County Star reports.

The grants were awarded through the Dignity Health Community Grants program, which recognizes organizations for providing health and wellness services to underserved populations (Ventura County Star, 1/25).

Stanford Hospital & Clinics

On Monday, officials at Stanford Hospital & Clinics said they plan to open a 70,000 square-foot outpatient cancer center in San Jose by 2014, the San Francisco Business Times' "BizTalk" reports.