California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of June 11, 2010
Dameron Hospital, Stockton
Registered nurses at Dameron Hospital voted by a ratio of 4-to-1 in favor of a new labor agreement that includes a 16% pay increase over four years, the Stockton Record reports.
The California Nurses Association confirmed the vote on Wednesday (Goldeen, Stockton Record, 6/9).
Tri-City Medical Center, Oceanside
On Monday, Tri-City Medical Center CEO Larry Anderson said he intends to fire five workers for allegedly discussing patient information on the social networking website Facebook, the AP/Ventura County Star reports (AP/Ventura Country Star, 6/8). Anderson said he also plans to take disciplinary action against a sixth employee.
Anderson did not specify the type of information shared but said that no patient names, pictures or other identifying information was posted to the website.
Max Carbuccia, a representative of the California Nurses Association, said six registered nurses at the hospital were put on administrative leave about three weeks ago. He said the employees have denied posting specific information about patients online and have yet to see the evidence against them (Sisson, North County Times, 6/7).
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is receiving bids for the operation of an urgent care clinic in Yosemite Valley, the Merced Sun-Star reports.
The park's current 15-year contract with Tenet Healthcare and Doctors Medical Center of Modesto is set to expire in December (Merced Sun-Star, 6/4). 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.