California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of November 4, 2011
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton
The Arrowhead Regional Medical Center Foundation -- the fundraising arm of Arrowhead Regional Medical Center -- has launched a new website, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.
The website provides answers to frequently asked questions, as well as information about the foundation's board of directors, history, mission and projects. In addition, the new website provides a link to a page where people can donate to the foundation (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 10/28).
El Centro Regional Medical Center
El Centro Regional Medical Center has implemented 50 PatientSecure hand scanners that read patients' vein patterns to verify their identity, Payers & Providers reports.
According to the hospital, using palm vein scanning technology is about 100 times more reliable than fingerprinting, and it also helps to ensure patient confidentiality.
Patients can opt to have their scans linked to their medical records. The technology was developed by Tampa, Fla.-based HT Systems (Payers & Providers, 11/3).
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Ontario
On Tuesday, Kaiser Permanente opened its new $550 million hospital in Ontario, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports.
The 386,000 square-foot, full-service hospital includes a 36-bed emergency department. Greg Christian, executive director of the medical center, said the hospital's opening is a milestone because it is the first ED to open in the city in 20 years (Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, 11/1).
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Vacaville
On Tuesday, officials celebrated the designation of Solano County's second Level III trauma center at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Vacaville, the Vallejo Times-Herald reports.
The designation will allow the hospital to offer emergency resuscitation, intensive care and surgery to patients with traumatic injuries. In September, NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield became the first hospital in Solano County to receive designation as a Level III trauma center (Fu, Vallejo Times-Herald, 11/2).
Sharp HealthCare, San Diego
The Sharp HealthCare hospital system and UnitedHealthcare are partnering to offer the Sharp SecureHorizons Plan, Payers & Providers reports.
The Medicare Advantage plan is the only one offered by UnitedHealthcare in San Diego County that does not charge a monthly premium for prescription drug coverage, according to Payers & Providers (Payers & Providers, 11/3).
Sierra Kings District Hospital, Reedley
On Tuesday, Adventist Health/Central Valley Network took over Sierra Kings District Hospital, the Fresno Bee reports.
The move comes as Sierra Kings inches closer to settling debts with creditors after filing for bankruptcy two years ago. Adventist Health/Central Valley Network agreed on a 15-year lease of the 49-bed hospital and agreed to hire Sierra Kings' employees.
Wayne Ferch, president and CEO of Adventist Health/Central Valley Network, said the deal will help Sierra Kings pay off its creditors. Ferch added that he expects the district hospital to become profitable in the future (Anderson, Fresno Bee, 11/1).
Victor Valley Community Hospital, Victorville
Victor Valley Community Hospital has reached an agreement in bankruptcy court to let Prime Healthcare Services assume daily management of the hospital through a consulting deal, California Watch reports.
In September, Attorney General Kamala Harris' (D) office denied the sale of Victor Valley Community Hospital to Prime. After the sale was blocked, Victor Valley's board proposed the consulting arrangement in bankruptcy court. Harris' office then sought a restraining order to block the deal.
Lynda Gledhill, a spokesperson for the attorney general, said the judge did not grant a restraining order but scheduled an in-depth hearing on the issue for Nov. 23 (Jewett, California Watch, 11/1).
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