California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of November 6, 2015
Chinese Hospital
Chinese Hospital's Chinese Community Health Plan has contracted with hundreds of doctors affiliated with Hill Physicians Medical Group to supplement its provider networks in San Francisco and northern San Mateo County for plans sold through Covered California, the San Francisco Business Times' "Bay Area BizTalk" reports.
According to Chinese Hospital, enrollment in the insurer's San Francisco health plan has increased from 16,000 enrollees two years ago to 27,782 in 2015, in large part because of the state's exchange (Rauber, "Bay Area BizTalk," San Francisco Business Times, 11/4).
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, Stanford Children's Health
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford and Stanford Children's Health have received HIMSS Analytics' Stage 7 Ambulatory Award, Healthcare IT News reports.
The award recognizes facilities that demonstrate progressive electronic health record and health information technology adoption (Davis, Healthcare IT News, 11/4).
Marin General Hospital
On Thursday, more than 500 Marin General Hospital nurses affiliated with the California Nurses Association held a one-day strike over alleged patient care and workplace safety issues, according to a release.
The nurses have been in negotiations with the hospital for 11 months, calling for safe staffing levels, bolstered workplace safety protocols and retention of full-time, experienced nurses (National Nurses United release, 11/4).
San Joaquin General Hospital
The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a contract for a new information system at San Joaquin General Hospital, the Stockton Record reports.
The $37.3 million contract was awarded to electronic health record vendor Cerner. Hospital CEO David Culberson said installation of the system is expected to start in February 2016, with it targeted to be finished by summer 2017 (Bowers, Stockton Record, 11/4).
Sonoma West Medical Center, Sebastopol
On Oct. 30, Sonoma West Medical Center and its emergency department officially reopened, the Long Beach Press Democrat reports.
The facility, previously called Palm Drive Hospital, closed following its second bankruptcy filing in April 2014. Since then, the medical center underwent an $8 million renovation and now houses 25 beds, a 24-hour ED, an operating room and 180 employees (Payne, Long Beach Press Democrat, 10/30).
St. Joseph's Medical Center, Stockton
Kaiser Permanente has partnered with Dignity Health to jointly operate St. Joseph's Medical Center, effective next year, KCRA reports.
Under the partnership, Dignity will maintain 80% ownership of the facility. Among other things, Kaiser and Dignity plan to expand the hospital's emergency department by more than 50% (Ordaz, KCRA, 11/3).
Vibra Hospital, Folsom
More than 100 workers at Vibra Hospital have voted join Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, according to an SEIU-UHW release.
The decision, which has been certified by the National Labor Relations Board, affects 116 licensed vocational nurses, certified nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, laboratory workers, technical monitors, pharmacy technicians, secretaries and cooks (SEIU-UHW release, 11/3).
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.