California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of May 24, 2013
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Oakland
State regulators have levied a $142,970 fine against Alta Bates Summit Medical Center for failing to properly isolate nearly two dozen patients suspected of having tuberculosis, the Contra Costa Times reports (Kleffman, Contra Costa Times, 5/22).
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health found that from Nov. 15, 2012, to Jan. 14, the hospital put at least 23 patients suspected of having TB in 17 different rooms that did not meet state requirements for ventilation to prevent the spread of TB (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 5/21).
Mike Hill, an Alta Bates registered nurse, said no other patients were infected during the period reviewed by Cal-OSHA.
Stacey Wells, a spokesperson for the hospital, said Alta Bates plans to appeal the citation (Contra Costa Times, 5/22).
Kaweah Delta Medical Center, Visalia
Last week, Kaweah Delta Medical Center unveiled its new $2.7 million helipad to the public, the Fresno Bee reports.
The helipad largely was funded by a campaign launched by hospital employees, which raised $675,000.
The structure will open on June 3. Kaweah expects about 375 landings the first year (Griswold, Fresno Bee, 5/18).
Marin General Hospital, Greenbrae
Last week, nearly a dozen nurses asked administrators at Marin General Hospital to delay implementation of an electronic physician order entry form until program glitches have been resolved, the Marin Independent Journal reports.
The nurses said that the hospital staff needs more time and training to learn the new system and avoid life-threatening medication mistakes (Halstead, Marin Independent Journal, 5/15).
St. John's Health Center, Santa Monica
On Friday, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System said that it has entered into contract negotiations to sell St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica to Providence Health & Services, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Providence -- a Catholic health system -- owns St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank and four other Southern California hospitals.
The proposed deal must be approved by the California attorney general's office and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Sisters of Charity officials say they have no timeline for when the deal will be finalized (Terhune, Los Angeles Times, 5/17). 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.