Hospital News Roundup for September 28, 2007
Construction began this week on the new Beaumont Healthcare Center, which is slated to open in 2009, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.
The $42 million outpatient medical center will include:
- A surgical and medical facility;
- Imaging, laboratory and outpatient services; and
- Medical office space.
Jane Dreher, spokesperson for Redlands Community Hospital, said the facility will serve residents of Beaumont, Cherry Valley, Cabazon and other nearby communities.
Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda School of Medicine's Faculty Practice Plan and Beaver Medical Group also are collaborating on the project (Farren, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 9/21).
Scripps Health recently has been recognized by two magazines for the quality of its employment policies, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
For the third year in a row, Working Mother magazine named Scripps as one of the best employers in the country for women with children.
In addition, AARP: The Magazine recognized Scripps as one of the 50 best employers in the U.S. for workers older than age 50. Scripps has been awarded the distinction four consecutive years (Darcé, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9/25).
Sutter Medical Center has joined a new national children's health fundraising campaign called Together for Kids, Capital Public Radio's "KXJZ News" reports.
Gregory Janos, head of Sutter's Children's Center, said funding for children's hospitals has not kept pace with growing children's health needs and the rising number of uninsured.
Together for Kids will raise money through corporate sponsorship, grants and philanthropy and distribute the funds to participating hospitals.
More than 30 hospitals nationwide have joined the campaign (Milne, Capital Public Radio, "KXJZ News," 9/27).
A transcript and audio of the segment are available online.
The Tri-City Healthcare District has hired consultants to hold public forums seeking input on renovations to the Tri-City Hospital that will bring the facility into compliance with state seismic safety standards, the Union-Tribune reports.
Last year, the district failed twice in obtaining the two-thirds voter approval on $596 million bond issues to replace existing hospital buildings that do not meet the state requirements.
The third attempt at seeking approval, possibly June 2008, will be preceded by public forums in which seniors, employees, first responders and other stakeholders can express their expectations and needs for the hospital (San Diego Union-Tribune, 9/27).
Washington Hospital Healthcare System has reached an agreement with an HMO network administered by Blue Shield of California for CalPERS, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
Under the three-year agreement, the hospital system will return to CalPERS' HMO hospital contracting network, making all inpatient and outpatient services available to CalPERS HMO members, according to hospital officials.
The agreement also allows any Blue Shield member, regardless of the plan, to receive care throughout the Washington Hospital system.
The hospital system was excluded from the HMO network in 2005 after Blue Shield determined it had higher costs than other facilities (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 9/26).