California Hospital News Roundup for the Week of July 31, 2015
Adventist Health
Not-for-profit Adventist Health has reported an increase in its 2014 net income, leading to a 3.6% profit margin, the Sacramento Business Journal reports.
The health system reported net income of $117.7 million on revenue of about $3.3 billion last year, compared with net income of $55.1 million on revenue of $3.1 billion in 2013. The health system saw hospital admissions increase by 13%, while outpatient visits increased by nearly 6% (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 7/29).
Highland Hospital, Oakland
Highland Hospital has closed its substance use disorder program, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
The Alameda Health System said it decided to end the program because of low participation (Parr, San Jose Mercury News, 7/27). On Monday, Service Employees International Union Local 1021 held a rally at the hospital to protest the decision (Hossaini, "State of Health," KQED, 7/27).
Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center
The California Nurses Association has won a vote over United Nurses Associations of California to represent 1,200 nurses at Kaiser Permanente's flagship Los Angeles Medical Center, the San Francisco Business Times' "Bay Area BizTalk" reports.
Kaiser, which said it remained "neutral" in the vote, expects the National Labor Relations Board to certify the vote and said it "looks forward to working with CNA to reach a fair and equitable contract" (Rauber, "Bay Area BizTalk," San Francisco Business Times, 7/24).
Marin General Hospital
Dozens of nurses from the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United held a rally at the Marin General Hospital over ongoing contract negotiations, the Marin Independent Journal reports.
The nurses' contract expired in December 2014, and negotiations so far have focused on more staffing so that nurses can take breaks and receive help when moving patients. Linda Lang, the hospital's human resources officer, said the nurses have rejected three wage increase proposals (Halstead, Marin Independent Journal, 7/22).
Orange County Global Medical Center
Orange County Global Medical Center has been recognized by HHS for its efforts to promote organ donor registry enrollment, according to a release.
OCGMC was one of more than 500 hospitals nationwide and 121 in California to receive the recognition (OCGMC release, 7/28).
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