02/03/2012
This week, UC-San Diego Health System finalized its $18 million purchase of the Las Vegas-based Nevada Cancer Institute. Meanwhile, Prime Healthcare Services withdrew its bid to purchase the New Jersey-based Christ Hospital after coming under scrutiny for its billing practices.
01/31/2012
The California Assembly has passed a bill to expand an existing hospital smoking ban to include campuses. Meanwhile, the Senate has cleared legislation to let consumers seek care from physical therapists without referrals. Los Angeles Times' "PolitiCal," AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
01/30/2012
Many California hospitals are working to curb elective deliveries between 37 and 39 weeks to reduce complications in women and infants and trim costs. Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health are among the hospital systems that have launched such initiatives. Contra Costa Times.
01/30/2012
Some Sacramento-area health care providers are devising ways to reduce emergency department visits through less costly treatment options in primary care settings. Some strategies include establishing referral networks and opening urgent care clinics. Sacramento Bee.
01/30/2012
On Tuesday, the National Union of Healthcare Workers plans to hold a one-day strike at Kaiser Permanente hospitals over proposed cuts to health and retirement benefits and long wait times for psychiatric care. In addition to the 4,000 NUHW members, about 17,000 members of the California Nurses Association and 650 members of the Stationary Engineers Local 39 plan to strike in sympathy. Kaiser facilities plan to remain open during the walkout. San Francisco Chronicle.
01/27/2012
San Pablo's Doctors Medical Center has received an $8 million revolving line of credit from Gemino Healthcare Finance. Meanwhile, Natividad Medical Center in Salinas plans to train low-income women to become medical interpreters for patients who speak indigenous languages.
01/25/2012
The Tri-City Healthcare District is being sued over a decision in April 2011 to exclude an elected board member from some of its closed session meetings. The lawsuit argues that the agency should be prohibited from barring Randy Horton from executive sessions because doing so disenfranchises the 25,000 residents who voted for him. U-T San Diego.
01/24/2012
Catholic Healthcare West is ending its governing board's affiliation with the Catholic Church in an effort to make it easier to merge or affiliate with other hospital systems. CHW also is changing its name to Dignity Health. Kaiser Health News, Modern Healthcare.
01/24/2012
The California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems and Blue Shield of California have made contributions to Gov. Brown's November tax initiative. Brown said support from Kaiser Permanente will be announced soon. KQED's "Capital Notes" et al.
01/24/2012
Stanford Hospital & Clinics recently has affiliated with several medical practices as part of its not-for-profit University HealthCare Alliance. The alliance could increase competition for other organizations such as Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health. San Francisco Business Times.
01/24/2012
The National Union of Healthcare Workers is planning a Jan. 31 walkout at Kaiser Permanente hospitals in protest of labor issues. The California Nurses Association and Stationary Engineers Local 39 said that they will join in solidarity. Sacramento Bee, Sacramento Business Journal.
01/24/2012
Last week, UCSF Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann told the UC Board of Regents that she would prefer to loosen ties between UCSF's clinics, hospital, medical school and research facilities and the main UC system. According to Desmond-Hellmann, UCSF could become a leading health innovator worldwide if it took on a more autonomous role. The regents said they would task a committee to study the proposal and report back in July with recommendations. San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Business Times' "Bay Area Biz Talk."
01/20/2012
UC-San Diego Medical Center has renovated its fifth floor to create a new, 24-bed continuous care trauma unit. Meanwhile, St. Joseph's Medical Center in Stockton recently installed a new $250,000 clinical communication and data delivery system for paging physicians.
01/20/2012
On Thursday, Kaiser Permanente announced it will convert its intravenous equipment to safer alternatives that are devoid of two chemicals that have negative effects on health and the environment. Kaiser will begin purchasing medical products that are free of the chemicals PVC and DEHP, which can cause reproductive problems and other negative health effects, and pollute the environment. The announcement reflects a broader push by the U.S. health care system to encourage medical equipment suppliers to use safer chemicals when manufacturing products. Washington Post.
01/19/2012
Recent reports from the state Department of Public Health found that some hospital infection rates in California are nearly 50% lower than the national average. However, in-depth analyses in other states indicate that hospital-generated reports may include data on only about half of infections. California officials are reviewing the results of an in-depth infection reporting audit, but the state lacks the necessary funding to more closely monitor hospital-generated reports. California Watch.