California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of May 18, 2012

California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco

A poll from the Alliance for Jobs and Sustainable Growth found that 69% of voters who have heard of California Pacific Medical Center's $2.5 billion renovation plan support the project, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The proposal to renovate and build five health care facilities in the area still must be voted on by the city's Board of Supervisors (Nevius/Wildermuth, San Francisco Chronicle, 5/17).

Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Inglewood

Last month, the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West filed a complaint against Centinela Hospital Medical Center -- owned by Prime Healthcare Services -- over the hospital's treatment of employees, the Los Angeles Wave reports.

The allegations against Prime include interrogation and surveillance of workers, bad faith contract negotiations with employees and unlawful implementation of worker health benefits. Centinela Hospital provided no comment on the allegations.

The complaint gives notice to both parties to appear at a July 9 hearing at the National Labor Relations Board's Santa Monica office (Alemoru, Los Angeles Wave, 5/16).

Metropolitan State Hospital, Norwalk

Internal investigative reports from Metropolitan State Hospital that were obtained by the Los Angeles Times show significant lapses in the care of patients with mental health conditions, the AP/Insurance Journal reports (AP/Insurance Journal, 5/15).

According to the Times, staff members at the hospital:

• Failed to conduct regular checks on patients;
• Failed to summon timely help for patients;
• Moved a patient with a serious cervical injury;
• Lied to protect themselves and each other; and
• Slept while on the job.

Officials from the California Department of Mental Health declined to comment on the incident involving the patient with the cervical injury because it is the subject of ongoing litigation by the patient's family (Romney, Los Angeles Times, 5/13).

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose

Construction of a support building for the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center has halted after building crews discovered a cemetery while excavating the hospital grounds, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

According to a court document, construction stopped because it is a violation of state law to remove human remains from a cemetery without a court order.

On Friday, county officials will ask a judge to allow them to remove 100 coffins from the site to complete the construction project (Gomez, San Jose Mercury News, 5/16).

UCLA Health System, Santa Monica

UCLA Health System officially has opened its new Medical Office Building on its Santa Monica campus, the Santa Monica Mirror reports.

The three-story, 50,000 square-foot facility includes eight operating rooms and a linear accelerator for radiation oncology (Santa Monica Mirror, 5/15).