California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of October 10, 2008

Catholic Healthcare West, Ventura County

Nurses represented by Service Employees International Union Local 121RN have posted a notice of a five-day strike beginning on Oct. 19 because of concerns over staffing, patient care and wages, the Ventura County Star reports.

The strike will involve 761 nurses at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard and St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo, as well as about 650 nurses at Northridge Medical Center.

Catholic Healthcare West owns all of the facilities (Kisken, Ventura County Star, 10/9).

Hemet Valley Medical Center, Hemet

Hemet Valley Medical Center will continue to operate its obstetrics unit because two physicians have volunteered to provide on-call coverage, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.

Last week, the facility's operator, Valley Health System, announced plans to suspend obstetrics services because of a lack of physicians providing on-call coverage (Wesson, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 10/8).

Irvine Regional Hospital

On Tuesday, Tenet Healthcare announced that it will close Irvine Regional Hospital on Jan. 15, 2009, the Orange County Register reports. 

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian will take over the hospital's lease and reopen the facility after 12 months to 24 months of renovations (Bird, Orange County Register, 10/7).

Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center

Officials are voicing concerns that the new County-USC Medical Center will not have enough beds or doctors to fully staff the expanded emergency department, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Last week, officials announced that the move to the new facility will be delayed from Oct. 17 to Nov. 7 because of scheduling complications and last-minute work that has not been completed (Lin, Los Angeles Times, 10/5).

Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, Mission Hills

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Thomas McKnew ordered a halt to construction of the $180 million expansion project at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Under the judge's order, construction cannot resume until the Los Angeles City Council either approves the project with an eight-vote majority or orders an environmental impact report on the center (Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 10/3).

San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital, Banning

On Tuesday, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a measure to provide a $1 million advance to San Gorgonio Memorial Healthcare District, which operates San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.

Hospital administrator David Henson said the funds are an advance on tax revenue that the district typically receives in December and January.

District officials said the funds are needed because of a Medi-Cal paperwork problem and budget complications (Hines, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 10/8).

San Joaquin General Hospital, Stockton

The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors has extended its contract with the consulting firm the Camden Group for work at San Joaquin General Hospital, the Stockton Record reports.

Camden Group's contract has been extended through 2009 (Stockton Record, 10/8).

St. Mary Medical Center, Apple Valley

St. Mary Medical Center has added digital mammography to its imaging center, the Victorville Daily Press reports.

Currently, the hospital is the only facility in Victor Valley to offer digital mammography (Thatcher, Victorville Daily Press, 10/5).

Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital

In early 2009, Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital will install a solar energy system that is intended to supply roughly 50% of the hospital's power needs, the Sacramento Bee reports.