California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of January 16, 2015
Daughters of Charity Health System
Members of the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West have filed a labor charge against the Daughters of Charity Health System, alleging that its CEO is coercing employees to support its potential sale to Prime Health Services, the San Francisco Business Times' "Bay Area BizTalk" reports.
The suit alleges that CEO Robert Issai is intimidating workers into supporting the sale by threatening that the hospital will close and people will lose their jobs if the acquisition falls through ("Bay Area BizTalk," San Francisco Business Times, 1/13). The sale of the six safety-net hospitals is pending approval by State Attorney General Kamala Harris (D), who has until Feb. 11 to approve or void the deal (California Healthline, 1/2).
Eisenhower Medical Center, Rancho Mirage
Last week, the Eisenhower Medical Center hosted its first Transgender Symposium to raise awareness about the lack of health programs for transgender individuals in the area, the Palm Springs Desert Sun reports.
About 135 people attended the symposium, including physicians, nurses, social workers and transgender advocates (Peña, Palm Springs Desert Sun, 1/10).
La Palma Intercommunity Hospital
On Wednesday, Prime Healthcare Services announced it donated its La Palma Intercommunity Hospital to the not-for-profit Prime Healthcare Foundation, Hews Media Group-Cerritos Community News reports.
The donation made the 141-bed hospital a not-for-profit medical center as of Jan. 1 and frees it from any existing debt (Hews Media Group-Cerritos Community News, 1/14).
Scripps Health
This week, Scripps Health implemented visitor restrictions in its five hospitals in San Diego County to help stem the spread of influenza to its staff and patients, the Encinitas Patch reports.
The hospitals include Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla, Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista, Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.
Among other restrictions, the hospitals will screen all visitors and ask those displaying flu-like symptoms to leave the vicinity (Alfonso, Encinitas Patch, 1/12).
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