California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of March 18, 2011
California Pacific Medical Center-St. Luke's Hospital, San Francisco
The St. Luke's campus of California Pacific Medical Center has brought in 14 specialists to help staff a new multispecialty clinic, Âthe San Francisco Business Times reports.
Kevin McCormack, spokesperson for the hospital, said the recruiting of specialists is part of CPMC's attempt to start building up business for St. Luke's before the hospital undergoes a $200 million rebuilding project. The planned rebuild of St. Luke's calls for a 60- to 80-bed replacement for the hospital's existing 140-bed facility. The rebuilding project is part of CPMC's $2.5 billion, multi-site effort to reconfigure its facilities and meet seismic safety standards (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 3/11).
Sierra Kings District Hospital, Reedley
On March 10, the board of directors at Sierra Kings District Hospital submitted a ballot measure to the Fresno County clerk that would allow the board to lease or sell the hospital to Adventist Health, the Sacramento Business Journal reports.
Although the Fresno County Elections Department has received the ballot measure, further action is on hold until Gov. Jerry Brown (D) and state lawmakers decide whether to call a statewide special election in June. Even if a statewide election is not called, the hospital district still could call a local election on the Sierra Kings hospital issue.
If voters approve the measure, any sale or lease of Sierra Kings still would require court approval because the facility filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in 2009 and still is under bankruptcy protection (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 3/14).
Sutter Rehabilitation Institute, Roseville
Sutter Health plans to add 15 beds to its 40-bed Sutter Rehabilitation Institute by the end of 2011, the Sacramento Business Journal reports.
The $8 million expansion project also would add more cafeteria and kitchen space to the rehabilitation center. The center, which opened in December 2008, provides treatment for patients recovering from brain injuries, orthopedic conditions, strokes and serious injuries (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 3/11).
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