Troubled Sonoma West Medical Center Opts For Aggressive Fundraising Campaign Over Shut-Down Talks
Officials say it costs about $1.8 million to run the hospital each month, a figure that includes operational costs, payroll and current bills. In May, the hospital collected almost $1.9 million.
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Sonoma West Medical Center Hospital Puts Off Closure Talks, Plans Fundraising Campaign
Sonoma West Medical Center has put off deliberations over whether to shut down the Sebastopol hospital, opting instead to go forward with aggressive fundraising aimed at paying down part of the facility’s $5 million in debt. SWMC’s board of directors had planned to meet Friday and discuss whether to begin drawing up plans to close the cash-strapped facility. Barbara Vogelsang, SWMC’s chief nursing officer and COO, said in an email the SWMC board met Friday but “there was no motion made to discuss a closure of the hospital.”Any such plan would have to go before the Palm Drive Health Care District, which owns the hospital and supports it financially. (Espinoza, 6/29)
In other hospital news —
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Workers Protest Potential Layoffs
About 80 Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital unionized employees and their supporters carried signs and shouted slogans Friday in front of the hospital, protesting the potential layoff of several dozen medical technicians, including nursing assistants who provide bedside care for patients. Striding the sidewalk on Brookwood Avenue, the protesters — some wearing teal or blue hospital scrubs — carried signs that read “Patients Before Profits” and “Save Our Jobs.” ...St. Joseph Health, which operates Memorial Hospital and 62 other Sonoma County facilities, had $53 million in operating revenue last year, all of it returned to the nonprofit organization, said Vanessa deGier, a St. Joseph Health spokeswoman. (Kovner, 6/29)
KPBS:
Mental Health Advocates Concerned By Loss Of Inpatient Beds At Tri-City
Mental health advocates are reacting to the decision by Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside to close its inpatient mental health and crisis stabilization units. Tri-City Medical Center is a community district hospital run by a publicly elected board. The board has decided to suspend operations of the hospital’s inpatient mental health services and expand outpatient services. (St John, 7/2)