California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of June 21, 2013
Highland Hospital, Oakland
On June 12, Alameda Health System opened the three-story, 80,000-square-foot Highland Care Pavilion, which partly was developed to ease overcrowding at Highland Hospital's emergency department, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
The Pavilion is the first part of a three-phase, $668 million project to expand and rebuild Highland Hospital. The project is slated to finish by 2017 and includes a new 169-bed acute care tower, among other upgrades (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 6/14).
San Leandro Hospital
On Wednesday, the Eden Township Healthcare District board of directors pledged to work with Alameda Health System and the Alameda County Health Department to raise up to $20 million in funding for San Leandro Hospital, the Contra Costa Times reports.
In May, Sutter Health -- current owner of the hospital -- committed to donating the 93-bed facility to Alameda Health System by Oct. 1 and establishing a $22 million operating fund. Eden officials did not say where they will acquire the funding (McGlone, Contra Costa Times, 6/19).
St. Rose Hospital, Hayward
On Wednesday, the Washington Township Health Care District board of directors voted to terminate an agreement to create a nine-member joint powers authority for reducing debt at St. Rose Hospital in Hayward, the Argus/Contra Costa Times reports.
Washington officials said the authority met only once in July 2012 and that hospital leaders later backed away from pursuing management or ownership of the facility. They added that Washington has given $3.5 million to "Alameda County along with other stakeholders for the benefit of St. Rose" (McGlone [1], Argus/Contra-Costa Times, 6/19).
Washington Hospital, Fremont
On July 1, Washington Hospital will launch its $80 million electronic health record system, called "WeCare," the Argus/Contra Costa Times reports.
The hospital's board of directors approved the project in 2010, and the staff began training to use the system in 2011 (McGlone [2], Argus/Contra Costa Times, 6/16). 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.