California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of October 31, 2014
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Autism Speaks has awarded Children's Hospital Los Angeles a $1 million grant to fund research on whether treatment of chronic constipation can improve behavioral symptoms associated with autism, according to a Children's Hospital release.
A team of researchers led by Pat Levitt, the Simms/Mann Chair of Developmental Neurogenetics at the hospital, will use the funding to conduct a study of 120 children who will be evaluated by both gastrointestinal specialists and clinical psychologists every three months for a year (Children’s Hospital release, 10/27).
Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena
Huntington Memorial Hospital has received an endowment from James and Eleanor Randall to support the hospital's breast cancer center, according to a release.
Ruth Williamson, medical director for breast cancer services, said the new Randall Endowment for Breast Care will provide funding for diagnostic and therapeutic services, or to implement new technology or care protocols (Huntington Memorial Hospital release, 10/27).
Natividad Medical Center, Salinas
The Natividad Medical Center has opened a trauma center for treating patients with life-threatening injuries, such as gunshot wounds, KSBW reports (Cortez, KSBW, 10/28).
According to Kirk Schmitt, director of the county's Emergency Medical Services, the medical center will operate as trauma center through December. At that point, a panel will review the center to determine whether it meets standards to formally become a Level II trauma center (Natividad release, 10/15).
Sutter Health
Sutter Health next year will consolidate five of its Northern California regions into two regions and appoint several new executive officers, the San Francisco Business Times' "Bay Area BizTalk" reports.
Sutter's West Bay, East Bay and Peninsula Coastal divisions in April will merge into a single Bay Area Division, while at least six Sutter officials will take new executive positions early next year. According to "Bay Area BizTalk," the new regional and staffing structure is intended to support Sutter's patient-focused strategy (Rauber, "Bay Area BizTalk," San Francisco Business Times, 10/29).
University of California Medical Centers
On Tuesday, members of the California Nurses Association and National Nurses United said University of California medical centers are not prepared to accept patients infected with Ebola, NBC7 reports (Rascon/Stickney, NBC7, 10/28).
On Oct. 24, UC officials announced that its five medical centers -- in Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco -- are prepared to handle Ebola patients and will coordinate with the state and local health departments on Ebola preparedness (California Healthline, 10/27). However, nurses have said residents could be at risk because the centers' personal protective equipment is not sufficient (NBC7, 10/28).
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