California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of March 12, 2010
Huntington Hospital, Pasadena
On March 3, Pasadena city officials held a groundbreaking event to kick off construction on a new urgent care clinic that is expected alleviate long wait times at Huntington Hospital's emergency department, the Pasadena Star-News reports.
The new facility, which will cover more than 10,000 square feet, will have 11 primary care and 11 urgent care rooms. The clinic is expected to open this summer (Abendschein, Pasadena Star-News, 3/3).
John Muir Medical Center Auxiliary, Walnut Creek
John Muir Health Foundation recently announced that John Muir Medical Center Auxiliary has contributed a $1 million installment toward a $2.5 million campaign pledge, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
The funds will help pay for a $621 million expansion at John Muir's Walnut Creek campus.
Officials expect the construction of the expanded facility to be completed in December, with an anticipated opening in the spring of 2011 (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 3/8).
Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center, Thousand Oaks
A recently released Draft Environmental Impact Report found that Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center's planned expansion will have no significant permanent impact on the environment, the Ventura Country Star reports.
The hospital is planning to build a new patient care wing, a fourth story on an existing wing and a new parking structure.
Officials say the project will make the facility compliant with state seismic safety laws by the 2013 deadline (Rochester, Ventura County Star, 3/9).
Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center, Riverside
On Tuesday, Prime Healthcare Services filed a notice of default calling for Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center to repay its estimated $27.2 million debt to the health care organization, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.
Parkview now has 90 days to reach an agreement with Prime Healthcare, after which Prime Healthcare can file a notice of intent to sell.
Hospital officials said the medical center will remain open and continue serving patients, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.
For the past year, Parkview officials have been working toward acceptance in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Federal Housing Authority mortgage insurance program, which would refinance the hospital's debt and provide it with access to a credit line. HUD officials are expected to visit the hospital next month (Hines, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 3/10).
San Joaquin General Hospital, Stockton
A recent report presented to the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors suggests that San Joaquin General Hospital has met its January budget goals, the Stockton Record reports.
The report noted that the hospital's year-to-date losses already have hit $13.3 million, which is $14.4 million over budget for fiscal year 2010.
The hospital's losses for the year are expected to reach between $18 million and $19 million, $12 million of which the county is expected to absorb (Stockton Record, 3/10).
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose
Officials are bringing in the consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal Holdings to help operate Santa Clara Valley Medical Center following the recent departure of two senior county health officials, the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal reports.
The initial contract will cost $100,000 and is expected to last about a year (Duan, Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, 3/11).
Ventura County Hospitals
A recent review conducted by the American College of Surgeons has found that three Ventura County hospitals could be designated as trauma centers after completing certain additional work, the Star reports.
The hospitals cited in the review are:
- Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center;
- St. John's Regional Medical Center; and
- Ventura County Medical Center.
Although all of the facilities currently function as trauma centers, officials said ACS verification could help the county establish procedures for treating severe trauma cases.
The Ventura County Emergency Services Agency is expected to review the report and make recommendations to the county Board of Supervisors in the coming weeks (Barlow, Ventura County Star, 3/8).
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