California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of February 6, 2009
Edgemoor Geriatric Hospital, Santee
In the coming weeks, San Diego County officials plan to begin moving Edgemoor Geriatric Hospital patients to a newly built replacement facility, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
All 170 patients at the geriatric center eventually will be moved to the $129.2 million Edgemoor Skilled Nursing Facility.
At least five grand juries have recommended rebuilding the geriatric hospital or moving its patients, and state officials have issued at least four fines for problems related to care at the facility (Clock, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2/2).
Hemet Valley Medical Center, Hemet
In a December 2008 letter to the board of Valley Health Systems, physicians at Hemet Valley Medical Center alleged that hospital district management company Quorum Health Resources broke medical staff bylaws by making health care delivery changes without doctors' approval, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.
Hemet Valley's medical executive committee wrote that decisions, such as the firing of hospital administrators, have affected patient care and the morale of employees. In addition, the letter states that the actions affect the hospital's accreditation with the Joint Commission (Hines, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 1/31).
St. Joseph Health System, Orange
St. Joseph Health System was set to begin a round of layoffs on Feb. 4, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.
Hospital officials said the layoffs are needed because of multimillion dollar declines in revenue and government reimbursements.
St. Joseph's spokesperson Katy Hillenmyer refused to comment on the timeframe or number of workers the layoffs will affect (Espinoza, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 2/4). 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.