California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of July 27, 2012
Children's Hospital Los Angeles-Valencia
Last week, Children's Hospital Los Angeles opened a new outpatient facility in Valencia, the hospital's second branch facility, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
The new facility will offer pediatric services that include hematology, oncology, neurology, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery and urology (Los Angeles Daily News, 7/19).
Palomar Medical Center, Escondido
Last week, officials with the new Palomar Medical Center held a press conference to unveil the $956 million facility, which is scheduled to begin operations Aug. 19, U-T San Diego reports.
The new facility includes 288 beds and room for further expansion.
The original 60-year-old Palomar hospital in downtown Escondido will be converted for other medical uses when the new facility opens (Lavelle, U-T San Diego, 7/19).
United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley
Kaiser Permanente has donated $50,000 to help United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley improve services for patients with diabetes, The Business Journal reports.
The community health center plans to use the funds to launch outreach initiatives for patients who are not keeping up with treatment plans, as well as for group classes (The Business Journal, 7/24).
West County Health Center, San Pablo
John Muir Health has given $1 million to help Contra Costa Health Services expand health care services during evenings and weekends at its new West County Health Center in San Pablo, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
The new center is scheduled to open in about six weeks, according to John Muir officials.
William Walker -- director of Contra Costa Health Services -- said the additional hours will help curb unnecessary trips to the emergency department at Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 7/24). 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.