California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of June 12, 2015

Loma Linda University Health, San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital

Loma Linda University Health and San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital are in talks with Adventist Health about a possible affiliation, the Sacramento Business Journal reports.

According to Adventist spokesperson Rita Waterman, details of the potential mergers have not yet been determined. Meanwhile, Adventist CEO Scott Reiner said LLUH and SGMH are two of "five or six" potential deals (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 6/9).

Marin General Hospital, Greenbrae

For the fifth year in a row, Marin General Hospital has received an award from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for its stroke care, according to a hospital release.

The AHA and ASA award is given to hospitals that achieve at least 85% compliance with all evidence-based guidelines for at least two consecutive 12-month periods, as well as at least 75% compliance with at least five quality measures (Marin General Hospital release, 6/5).

Rideout Memorial Hospital, Marysville

On Tuesday, a California appeals court overturned a lower court decision that cleared Rideout Memorial Hospital in the death of a patient, the San Francisco Chronicle's "SFGate Blog" reports.

The patient was admitted to the hospital in August 2008 and signed a form explaining that physicians who provided services at the facility were independent contractors and not hospital employees. In the court case, Rideout maintained that the consent form protected the hospital from liability following the patient's death. Relatives argued that the patient was unable to understand the form.

The 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento ruled 3-0 this week that hospitals can be held liable for malpractice by emergency department physicians who appear to be actual employees (Egelko, "SFGate Blog," San Francisco Chronicle. 6/10).

San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center

Starting Friday, San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center will stop offering sugary drinks in its cafeteria, gift shops, patient meals and vending machines, the AP/Contra Costa Times reports.

The moves comes after the San Francisco Board of Supervisors earlier this week approved ordinances to curb the use of sugar-sweetened beverages citywide (AP/Contra Costa Times, 6/11).

San Leandro Hospital, Oakland

San Leandro Hospital has launched a new mobile MRI unit, according to a hospital release.

The mobile unit, which is stationed at the hospital two days a week, offers inpatient and outpatient services. The unit travels between San Leandro Hospital and Alameda Hospital, both part of the Alameda Health System (San Leandro Hospital release, 6/8).