EDGEMOOR HOSPITAL: Seeks Bids for New Building, Operator
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors today is expected to invite formal bids from five private companies to help rebuild the deteriorating Edgemoor Hospital as part of a new senior health care complex. "It's time to move on, get the job done, rebuild Edgemoor, not as a stand-alone facility, but as part of a continuum of care to meet the needs of our senior populations," said Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who drafted the proposal for the new complex. Patient advocate Richard Danford said that Jacobs' proposal has alleviated some patients' anxiety about the future but that some concern remains over the new private entity's handling of staffing levels and patient care. Mary Grillo, executive director of Service Employees International Union Local 2028, said that "[s]ome of the prospective developers have little or no experience in operating health care facilities" and that the county was not placing patient care as its highest priority in rebuilding Edgemoor. County HHS Director Dr. Robert Ross countered, "That's nonsense. Patient care is the No. 1 issue." The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that a memo by Chief Administrative Officer Larry Prior said the chosen developer "would be required to build a skilled nursing facility with 128 beds within two years, 'with minimal disruption to the residents at Edgemoor." In addition, the complex would be expanded to include 115 beds for long-term care patients and rehabilitation needs. The five firms are: Premier Management Co., Vanir Development Co. Inc., Stone Anderson Investment Co., Atlantic Shores Healthcare Inc. and Berkley Convalescent Hospitals (Rother, 2/22).
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