California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of May 23, 2014
Dignity Health
On May 15, Dignity Health released its quarterly report showing the health system lost $17.4 million on operations during the first quarter of the year, compared with its $42.3 million gain in operating income during the first quarter of 2013, the Sacramento Business Journal reports.
Dignity CFO Michael Blaszyk attributed the loss to changes under the Affordable Care Act, such as cuts to Medicare payments and increasing Medicaid populations (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 5/20).
Doctors Medical Center
Last week, unions representing Doctors Medical Center employees filed a complaint against Contra Costa County and the West Contra Costa Healthcare District alleging unlawful discrimination related to the planned closure of the hospital, the Contra Costa Times reports.
Specifically, the unions' complaint to HHS alleges that DMC is necessary for West County's low-income residents to access health care and that the hospital's closure would have a "disparate and disproportionate impact on the health of African-Americans and senior citizens," therefore violating their civil rights. The complaint seeks an injunction from the federal government to stop the closure (Rogers, Contra Costa Times, 5/20).
Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz
More than 1,000 people have signed an online petition asking Dominican Hospital to reinstate its primary lactation consultant after she was dismissed from the position on Monday, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reports.
On Wednesday, nearly 50 protestors gathered outside the hospital, saying that dismissal calls Dignity Health's -- the hospital's parent company -- commitment to breast feeding into question (Hoppin, Santa Cruz Sentinel, 5/21).
Kaiser Permanente Southern California
On Tuesday, Kaiser Permanente Southern California announced it will award a $2 million grant to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital, which is scheduled to open in Los Angeles next spring, the Fort Mill Times reports.
The Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit grant will help to expand the hospital's maternity services as part of its Healthy Babies, Healthy Beginnings initiative to provide high quality maternity care to 1.2 million residents in southern Los Angeles and its surrounding communities (Fort Mill Times, 5/20).
Marin General Hospital, Greenbrae
On May 15, Marin General Hospital's Marin Cancer Institute received accreditation with commendation, the highest level of recognition given by the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer, according to a hospital release.
Marin has also received Gold level designation and qualified for the commission's Outstanding Achievement award by completing all seven standards of care (Marin General Hospital release, 5/15).
Modesto Memorial Medical Center
Last week, a group of registered nurses at Sutter Health's Modesto Memorial Medical Center filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board requesting a secret-ballot election to join the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United union, the Sacramento Business Journal reports (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 5/21).
Scripps Health, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego
On May 20, Scripps Health announced it will partner with Rady Children's Hospital San Diego to provide regional hospice services to pediatric patients, U-T San Diego reports. Scripps Health CEO Chris Van Forder said that the agreement between the centers finalizes their existing relationship.
The organizations also said they will work together to develop a philanthropic endowment to help cover care costs, since many insurers do not cover palliative and hospice care services (Sisson, U-T San Diego, 5/20).
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.