California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of November 21, 2014
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center reported a fiscal year 2014 income of $283.7 million on revenue of $2.93 billion, down 19% from the same time last year, Modern Healthcare reports. According to Modern Healthcare, the drop in income was due in part to rising expenses, which were up 4.5%, as outpatient care increased and inpatient stays decreased (Rubenfire, Modern Healthcare, 11/15).
In related news, Cedars-Sinai has implemented several methods to lower hospital infection rates after CDC gave the center low scores for catheter-related and intestinal infections, KPCC's "KPCC News" reports. For example, the medical center is more carefully regulating the use of antimicrobials and boosting housekeeping efforts (Aguilera, "KPCC News," KPCC, 11/14).
Daughters of Charity Health System
On Monday, Prime Healthcare Services CEO and Chair Prem Reddy said his company's acquisition of six Daughters of Charity Health System hospitals is the only way to prevent closure of the facilities, the San Francisco Business Times' "Bay Area BizTalk" reports (Rauber, "Bay Area BizTalk," San Francisco Business Times, 11/17).
The sale is pending approval by the state attorney general's office, which has until Feb. 11 to approve or void the deal (California Healthline, 11/11).
Desert Regional Medical Center, JFK Memorial Hospital
Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs and JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio have re-launched an outreach campaign to raise awareness about the Affordable Care Act's second open enrollment period, the Palm Springs Desert Sun reports.
The "Path to Health" campaign aims to notify uninsured residents that the enrollment period has begun and to point them to enrollment counselors in the Coachella Valley area (Caldwell/Honts, Palm Springs Desert Sun, 11/15).
Shriners Hospital for Children, Sacramento
Shriners Hospital for Children has received a $7.3 million bequest from a Sacramento resident to support the center's occupational therapy services, the Sacramento Business Journal reports.
The program helps children with orthopedic problems and other developmental and physical challenges strengthen functional skills, such as writing with a pen or throwing a ball (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 11/14).
Sonoma Valley Hospital
The Sonoma Valley Hospital has purchased a robot to disinfect the areas of the facility, MedCity News reports. The robot will target viruses, mold and other bacteria.
According to the Kathy Mathews, a registered nurse who coordinates the hospital's infection prevention, the robot most likely will be used to combat bacteria such as Clostridium difficile colitis or multi-drug resistant organisms (Verel, MedCity News, 11/19).
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.