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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 12061994 - S.5 S.5 THE BOARD OR SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on _December 6, 1994 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Bishop, Torlakson, Powers NOES: None ABSENT: Supervisors Smith, DeSaulnier ABSTAIN: None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SUBJECT: Proposal to Reopen the Los Medanos. Community Hospital and Recongifure Merrithew Hospital The Board received the recommendations of Supervisor Torlakson relative to a proposal to provide for the reopening of Los Medanos Community Hospital and the reconfiguration of Merrithew Memorial Hospital. Since Supervisor Smith and DeSaulnier were in Washington, D. C. , on County business, the Board determined to continue this matter for one week. Therefore, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that consideration of Supervisor Torlakson's proposal is CONTINUED to December 13 , 1994. I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Boar+of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: �� J �, /99�4 cc: Supervisor Torlakson PHIL BATCHELOR,Clerk of the Boaro Health Services Director of Supervisors and County Administrator County Administrator -- A=—.Deputy DEC-05-1994 04:42 SUPERVISOR TORLAKSON 5104278142 P.01/05 S.5 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra •t.r'. v ll f FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson Costa _.: County DATE: December 6, 1994 •u>:�ECT: ENDORSE PLAN TO REOPEN LOS NEDANOS COMMQNITY HOSPITAL AND RECONFIGURE MBRRIT8 W HOSPITAL SPECIFIC REOuESTI51 OR RECOMMENDATIONS)A BACKGROUND AND JUBTIFICATION RECOMMENDED ACTION: (A) Endorse Supervisor Tom Torlakson's proposal (attached) to re-open Los Medanos Community Hospital and reconfigure Merrithew Memorial Hospital . (B) Authorise the County Administrator to initiate the following actions: (1) Direct the County Administrator and Health Services Department to communicate with the receiver and the Board of Directors of the Los Medanos Community Hospital District and the District's non-profit corporations to inform them of the Board of Supervisors's desire to initiate immediate discussions regarding this plan to reopen Los Medanos Community Hospital . (2) Direct the County Administrator and Health Services Director to evaluate a reconfigured Merrithew Hospital based on the new plan. (3) Direct the County Administrator and Health Services Director to develop a focused 30-day timeline, beginning with the Board's action to endorse this plan, outlining the necessary actions/decisions necessary to fully evaluate and implement the ,plan. (4 ) Authorize Supervisor Torlakson to convene meetings between the county and representatives of the following .agencies and organizations to discuss and further develop the details of the new plan and the parameters of the agency partnerships : .r-- --■� CONTINUEDONATTACMMENT: LYES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION Oi BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER BIGNATILE(S): ACTION Of BOARD ON APPROVED AS RBCDMMENDEO■....■. OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS RALAY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS ATRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSEpIm AND RECT COPY Of AN ACTION TAKEN AYES:., ticks: AND ENTE ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABIENT: A AIN: OF SUPERVISOR THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED PHIL BATCHELOR,OLtAkVF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY A NI&TRATOA M382 110103) BY ,OEPU1 'DEC-05-1994 04:43 SUPERVISOR TORLAKSON 5104278142 P.02i05 ? Proposal to Re-Open Los Medanos Hospital and Reconfigure Merrithew December 6, 1994 Page TWO Delta Memorial Hospital Gordon Gravelle, President, Board of Directors Linda Horn, Administrator Kaiser Permanente Medical Center David Pockell, President/Chief Executive Officer Vivian Rittenhouse, Area Manager/Vice President Los Medanos Community Hospital District Jerry Rice, President John Connolly, Receiver A representative of Congressman Bill Baker A representative of Senator Dan Boatwright A representative of Assemblyman Bob Campbell A representative of Congressman George Miller A representative of Assemblyman Richard Rainey Health Care Employee Organizations California Nurses Association Public Employees Local 1 Local 250 Health Care Worker's Union Union of American Physicians and Dentists Physicians Union Mental Health Commission Wayne Simpson, Chair Representatives of Non-Profit Corporations associated with Los Medanos Community Hospital BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted on May 24, 1994, to pursue the re-opening of Los Medanos Community Hospital and authorized the County Administrator and Health Services Director to submit a proposal to the Los Medanos Hospital Board of Directors and Receiver. Several months passed with no response from the Los Medanos Board or the receiver. On August 24, 1994, 1 joined a coalition of citizens in a press conference to urge the receiver to move forward with reopening Los Medanos Hospital and negotiating with the county. I convened a meeting of the Board of Supervisors' Hospital Alternatives Subcommittee on October 27, 1994, to review with the receiver items of concern in the first offer and in preparation for the finalization of the submittal of a second proposal on October 31, 1994 . Throughout the Summer and Fall, I met with numerous citizen groups and community leaders, to share the county's proposals and receive input. The second proposal deals mainly with financial considerations but does include more flexibility in program components and references the desirability of implementing an obstetrics program such as a birthing center. The program and business components have been open for negotiation and discussion. The county and 1, as the Board's designated representative, have been anxious to move forward. Let's get off dead center and move forwardl As part of our ongoing effort to open Los Medanos Hospital, the recommendations above are a further effort to have all parties that can assist in reopening Los Medanos come forward at this time with their financial commitment and/or commitment of patients to support a viable business plan for Los Medanos Community Hospital. DEC-05-1994 04:43 SUPERVISOR TORLAKSON 5104278142 P.03i05 ij Tom Torlakson 300 East Leland Road Supervisor, District Five ;��;�'"' Suite 100 Contra Costa County :�, _ r Pittsburg,California 94565-4961 Board of Supervisors :�R. (510)427-6138 November 29, 1994 $TATKMI7NT REGARDING NEW PLAN FOR REOPENING LOS XEDANOS CORMNITY HOSPITAL While a small group has, in fact, been misleading voters with regards to my involvement with the Los Medanos Community Hospital, this has not deterred my efforts to ensure vital hospital access for my constituents. I have developed a new plan for Los Medanos Community Hospital and will immediately initiate renewed discussions with the district and other health providers in East County. In developing this new plan, I have focused on providing the community with improved access to health care and configuring the health care facility in such a way as to maintain financial viability. Any solution must recognize a fundamental principle: The county general fund which provides critical funding for other life protecting health services and law enforcement must not be placed at greater risk. Any solution must also recognize the valuable services of our county hospital employees and the need to provide for the continuity of their service and care. I must reiterate the .strong need for more intensive efforts to reopen Los Medanos Community Hospital. I am pushing for a focused 30-day timeline to closely analyze all possible alternatives. I call on other health providers, community physicians, our legislative delegation, and city officials to join in strong partnerships for the common goal of providing quality health care for our citizens. I will invite board members and administrators of Los Medanos Hospital, Delta Memorial Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, the receiver, CalMortgage and Community physicians to examine all partnership possibilities to .l DEC-05-1994 04:44 SUPERVISOR TORLAKSON 5104278142 P.04i05 Page TWO reopening Los Medanos with as complete a combination of services as possible--including acute, in-patient care. I will vote to commit our general acute care average daily census of approximately 25 patients to an East County hospital solution and towards the goal of reopening Los Medanos with Med-Surgery and obstetrics as part of services provided to the community. I continue to be vitally concerned over the provision of services and facilities for our mental health patients . I have asked the Health Services Department to examine a reconfiguration of Merrithew that would include 40 to 60 in-patient psychiatric beds--guaranteeing care in the Merrithew replacement hospital. I will appeal to our legislative delegation to assist with legislation that will provide some flexibility in how SB 855 and SB 1732 funds can be utilized. Such legislation could offer other possible alternatives which heretofore have not been considered in addressing this health care debate. To assist in facilitating and expediting a resolution to the reopening of Los Medanos Hospital, I will request that the Board of Supervisors retain a health care systems analyst serve as a resource and provide a fresh perspective in the discussions with Los Medanos Hospital and East County health care providers. Attached is a floor-by-floor breakdown of my proposal to reconfigure the Los Medanos Community Hospital. Tom Torlakson Supervisor, District Five TT:gro 51pA2`�E1A2 - SupER �yEG SG o xQ 4% s rA a -' ,,rt w 4 va � p to 0 vo- 1- 0 y a a)0 t o 5- 04o fl s a f