Calif. Hospital News Roundup for the Week of Feb. 12, 2010
Adventist Health, Willits
Adventist Health has inked a deal with the Frank R. Howard Foundation to build a new hospital in Willits, HealthLeaders Media reports.
Adventist will continue to lease the existing hospital from the foundation while construction of the new facility is underway (Commins, HealthLeaders Media, 2/9).
Downey Regional Medical Center
On Feb. 9, the Daughters of Charity Health System said it has started exclusive negotiations to acquire the not-for-profit Downey Regional Medical Center, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
Downey filed for bankruptcy in September 2009 (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 2/10).
St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital, Camarillo
Officials at St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital informed certified nurse midwives that they will not be permitted to deliver or participate in deliveries beginning on Feb. 8, the Ventura County Star reports.
Hospital officials said the decision was motivated by concerns about patient safety but added that midwives would be permitted to participate in deliveries at St. John's Oxnard campus, where there is a neonatal intensive care unit (Kisken, Ventura County Star, 2/6).
San Francisco General Hospital
Leaders at San Francisco General Hospital are using an electronic referral system to expedite consultations with specialists at the hospital for patients seeking care at the city's network of clinics, the Business Times reports.
The effort is part of a larger initiative aimed at boosting services without increasing costs while the hospital grapples with uncertain reimbursements and costs of building a new facility (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 2/5). 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.