California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of September 25, 2015
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Children's Hospital Los Angeles has received an $8.4 million NIH grant to fund a five-year study on HIV among black, Latino and multiracial gay and bisexual men, according to a hospital release.
The Healthy Young Men's Study will investigate how new technologies -- such as telehealth tools, mobile applications and wearable devices -- can better engage such individuals in HIV testing and link them to treatment options (Children's Hospital Los Angeles release, 9/17).
Chinese Hospital, San Francisco
Chinese Hospital and its Chinese Community Health Plan have filed a lawsuit against a physician group affiliated with the not-for-profit hospital over alleged defamation and unfair business practices, the San Francisco Business Times' "Bay Area BizTalk" reports (Rauber, "Bay Area BizTalk," San Francisco Business Times, 9/22).
The complaint was filed in response to a lawsuit from the Chinese Community Health Care Association alleging that CCHP has tried to squeeze the physician group out of a more than 30-year alliance with the Hospital and health plan (California Healthline, 9/11).
The countersuit seeks punitive and other damages, and asks the physician group to repay more than $5.2 million to the health plan that is reportedly owed under risk-adjustment standards imposed by the Affordable Care Act ("Bay Area BizTalk," San Francisco Business Times, 9/22).
Dignity Health
Dignity Health has reported a net income of about $558 million on revenue of $12.4 billion during fiscal year 2015, down from a net income of $885 million on revenue of about $10.7 billion in FY 2014, the Sacramento Business Journal reports.
During FY 2015, revenue jumped by 16% and income fell by 37% from the previous year (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 9/23).
Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital, Willits
The new Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital is set to open in mid-October, the North Bay Business Journal reports.
The 74,000-square-foot facility has 25 private inpatient rooms. It will provide services such as radiology imaging, laboratory testing, inpatient and outpatient surgery, 24-hour emergency care and physical therapy (North Bay Business Journal, 9/23).
St. Joseph Hoag Health
St. Joseph Hoag Health has launched a new mobile health and wellness management application, according to a release.
The app was developed in partnership with Hart, a health management platform. Among other things, the app gives patients access to their medical records, lab results, post-visit instructions and pill reminders (St. Joseph Hoag Health release, 9/21).
Stanford Hospital
Construction of the new $2 billion Stanford Hospital is half complete and on track to be finished on schedule, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Grace Hsu, director of design management for the hospital, said construction is expected to finish in 2017, with the hospital on track to open in 2018. The new facility will have 368 rooms, all of which will be single occupancy to ensure patient privacy, comfort and safety (Green/Lee, San Jose Mercury News, 9/21).
Sutter Health
Sutter Health has contracted the National Research Corporation to conduct a patient experience measurement for the health system, according to a release.
The survey will provide Sutter with feedback on how to improve care delivery. NRC started conducting surveys this month vial email, phone and standard mail (NRC release, 9/22).
Sutter Memorial Medical Center, Modesto
The California Nurses Association has withdrawn its petition to represent nurses at Sutter Memorial Medical Center, the Central Valley Business Journal reports.
In June, nurses voted to reject CNA representation, and the union objected to the decision in July. A National Labor Relations Board administrative judge recommended that they have a new election, but CNA withdrew its petition to represent the nurses before it could be held. It cannot file another petition for at least six months (Central Valley Business Journal, 9/18).
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.