Palm Springs Hospital Improves To Two Stars In National Quality Ranking

The Desert Sun: Desert Regional Boosts Federal Hospital Grade
After landing among the worst scoring hospitals in the country last year, Desert Regional Medical Center has received a better grade from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Palm Springs hospital now holds a two-star rating on the federal agency's five-star scale, up from just one star it received last summer when CMS released its first-ever hospital grades. Hospitals nationwide have criticized the scoring system for undercutting hospitals that provide a broader range of services and treat more low-income patients. Out of 3,662, hospitals nationwide assigned a rating in July, Desert Regional was one of just 133 to receive one star. As a regional trauma center, patients in need of more critical care are routinely sent to Desert Regional instead of other local hospitals. (Newkirk, 1/27)

In other news —

Sacramento Business Journal: Adventist Health Gets Green Light For New Roseville Headquarters 
Adventist Health’s proposed $100 million headquarters received a unanimous green light from the Roseville Planning Commission on Thursday, opening the gate for the 275,000-square-foot building to move forward. The commission voted 6-0 in favor of the five-story 1400 Stone Point Drive project, which is off North Sunrise Avenue near Roseville Parkway. Roseville Planning Manager Greg Bitter said construction could begin in spring. A largely transparent edifice, the new headquarters will consolidate the faith-based nonprofit’s nearly 1,000 employees, who are current scattered into several buildings, into one location. “They are looking to have a first-class building for their employees here,” said Bitter, remarking on the building’s numerous amenities. (Patton, 1/27)