Hospitals Face Challenges in 2007
A state law requiring hospitals to conform to state seismic safety standards has created financial setbacks for Northern California hospitals, including Sutter Health, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
Sutter Health CEO Pat Fry said the hospital chain might change its plans to rebuild many of its hospitals in the region to pursue less expensive options, including retrofitting.
In addition to construction and retrofit costs, Kaiser Permanente and Sutter also are working to manage delays in the implementation of electronic medical records systems.
Hospitals statewide also are considering how Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) expected health care reform proposal could affect their operations (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 1/1).