Dr. Steven Rosenthal photographed in his San Leandro, California office on Thursday March 26, 2009

SAN LEANDRO

WHEN IT COMES to patient safety in hospitals, egos should — and do — head out the door, internist and geriatrics specialist Steven Rosenthal says.

Members of the operating team should speak up if something doesn’t seem right as the surgeon goes over a pre-surgery checklist, he says, and nurses and pharmacists should question prescriptions if they suspect a mistake has been made.

And, the 30-year physician notes, the safety net has been improved with the use of electronic health records. In issuing prescriptions online, the legibility of a doctor’s handwriting is no longer an issue, he says with a smile.

Rosenthal, current chief of staff of the 500 physicians affiliated with San Leandro Hospital and Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, now has been recognized for going above and beyond in advocating patient safety.

Last month, Rosenthal, 57, of Oakland received the hospitals’ Physician Patient Safety Champion award for 2008.

The physicians and more than 1,500 employees at the hospitals can vote monthly for doctors who demonstrate excellence in a dozen categories related to patient quality and safety. During 2008, Rosenthal was nominated in six of 12 categories, receiving more nominations than any other physician.

Categories include communication, hand hygiene, critical conversations, grace under pressure and reconciliation of medical questions. 

During an interview in his San Leandro office, Rosenthal downplayed his individual contributions to patient safety, and cited the teamwork among hospital employees and doctors. Rosenthal said he voted for people “who could communicate, were patient, and listened and spoke in plain language, in a respectful and informative manner.”

The same was said of Rosenthal, whom George Bischalaney, the hospitals’ chief executive officer, described as “consistently having the patients’ best interests at heart, while treating everyone on the care team with respect and appreciation.”

Rosenthal received his medical training at UC Davis and served his residency at Highland Hospital in Oakland.

His goal in treating senior citizens, Rosenthal said, is to help them remain active and to have “vibrant, life-affirming experiences,” despite limitations. He sees his patients daily when they are hospitalized. He said his major post-hospitalization concern is tracking all medications that may be prescribed by different doctors.

 

On Saturdays, Senior Journal spotlights remarkable local seniors, issues that are important to them, organizations that are there to help, or activities they enjoy. If you know of an interesting Hayward-area senior, important issue, or effective organization, please e-mail ksantos@bayareanewsgroup.com, call 510-293-2468, write us at 22533 Foothill Blvd., Hayward, CA 94541, or send a fax to 510-293-2490.

 

 

Republished from The Daily Review