California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of February 24, 2012
California Pacific Medical Center, San FranciscoÂ
California Pacific Medical Center officials are seeking an extension to comply with state seismic safety mandates for rebuilding St. Luke's Hospital in the Mission District neighborhood of San Francisco, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
Kevin McCormack, a CPMC spokesperson, said the organization will miss the Jan. 1, 2015, seismic compliance deadline for the $275 million project, which likely will take at least four more years to complete (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 2/17).
Children's Hospital of Orange County
The California Department of Public Health is investigating Children's Hospital of Orange County after the facility reported a surgical error during a urology procedure on Feb. 2, the Orange County Register reports.
CHOC said that it reported the incident to state officials as required by state law.
The hospital said it is conducting its own investigation of the incident. CHOC noted in a statement, "We will refine our policies and procedures, as needed, and remain committed to the highest standards of care and safety for our patients" (Perkes, Orange County Register, 2/17).
San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital, Banning
Construction on a $30.6 million building belonging to San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital is 80% complete, according to a status report made available during a public tour of the facility, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.
Contractors recently oversaw the installation of the two-story building. The first floor will be 19,000 square feet and have 23 patient rooms. The second floor will be 18,500 square feet and have 16 intensive care unit beds.
Officials expect the building to be ready for staff and supplies by next December (Waldner, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 2/16).
St. Rose Hospital, Hayward
The Eden Township Healthcare District board of directors recently restated its intent to acquire the not-for-profit St. Rose Hospital, which has been losing about $1 million each month, the Contra Costa Times reports.
St. Rose CEO Michael Mahoney said that the hospital serves a high number of uninsured Medi-Cal and Medicare beneficiaries and that program reimbursements do not cover the hospital's costs. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.
Merging with the district would allow the hospital to become eligible for more government subsidies and tax revenue, with voters' approval (Sweeney, Contra Costa Times, 2/16). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.