George Bischalaney, President and CEO, Eden Medical Center
By George Bischalaney, President & CEO, Eden Medical Center
Health care reform is on the agenda, again. The stakes are high, but our President is determined to make some significant changes. As the discussion moves from general to specifics, special interests are staking out their positions. None of the stakeholders—hospitals included—wants to feel the impact or be at a disadvantage.
Amidst the demand for cost reduction and health care coverage for all, there is and must be continued investment in care. Physicians demand it. They expect to be able to practice with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to produce outcomes that meet national, state and local quality standards. Patients demand it. They want to know that their local hospital has the right number of well-trained staff as well as the latest diagnostic and treatment equipment, and contemporary facilities.
With this backdrop of conflicting needs, Eden Medical Center is about to begin a three-year project that will result in the replacement of the Castro Valley hospital. The project cost is estimated to be $320 million. The current 55-year-old building is anything but contemporary. With few private rooms, small operating rooms and inadequate support space for clinical services, a new hospital is very much needed.
Eden Medical Center has served the community well, but it was not designed for patient comfort and needs, more for staff needs and functionality. While our project may seem ill timed given the uncertainty of hospital reimbursement, we are required to meet California legislated standards for seismic safety in hospitals. And it truly is needed.
We’ll celebrate our long sought goal with a ground-breaking ceremony on July 1st. Then we’ll spend the next three years continuing the investment in the new buildings and equipment, while observing and hoping that decision makers do not enact legislation that essentially penalizes us for the commitment we are making. When we celebrate the grand opening and our new beginning early in 2013, it should be with the same hope and dreams as those who celebrated the first ceremony in 1954.
By Cassandra Clark, Project Communications Director
After what has seemed like a very long journey, we now have permits in hand, and contractors have already mobilized on the Eden Medical Center campus to get it ready for construction of the highly anticipated new hospital. We want to keep you informed about the project, and let you know what you can expect in the next week and throughout the month of July.
Fencing around the perimeter of the construction area is almost complete! The fencing goes along our property line on Stanton Avenue, through our campus, and along the adjacent apartment buildings. We are also installing a gate at one of our Stanton Avenue entrances to limit access to the area only to construction vehicles.
Tree stump removal on the future helipad site will begin later this week. The new site is approximately 150 feet north of the present location, as close as possible to the Eden Medical Trauma Center. Two days have been allocated for this work. Grading of the new helipad site will begin as early as June 26th, and will take up to three weeks to complete.
Demolition of the vacant Pine Cone Apartments on Stanton Avenue will begin July 1st. The structure will be demolished in one day, and it will take about two full weeks to break down and remove the debris.
Hours of work will be from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday, but is subject to change as work moves into subsequent phases. We will keep you posted on construction schedules.
The Alameda County Fire Department has requested use of the vacant Pine Cone Apartment building for training purposes on June 29 and 30, prior to demolition. Firefighters in training often use vacant buildings to practice search, rescue and simulated fire control. You will see firefighters on site on these dates, using smoke generators (no real fire) and equipment. Their life-saving work is a benefit to the community and we are proud to support their efforts.
If you have any questions or concerns about the preparation phase of construction, please comment on our blog, and we will respond promptly.
The highly anticipated decision by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to approve construction of the new hospital in Castro Valley has been closely followed by Bay Area media. Read more about the outcome of the June 9th meeting and the issues raised in our communities. We welcome your comments under the SMCCV blog post on June 11th, as well as on our social networks (click on social network links on the right column)…
County Supervisors Meet on New Eden Hospital Proposal
CastroValleyForum.com—By: Staff Reports : 6/9/09 OAKLAND—Alameda County Supervisors were still in session late Tuesday afternoon and, by The Forum’s press deadline …
Potential conflicts raised before panel decides hospital’s future
Tri Valley Herald - Jun 9, 2009
By Karen Holzmeister SAN LEANDRO - In his professional life, former surgeon Rajendra Ratnesar is a Sutter Health employee, working as medical director for …
Businessman woos San Leandro Hospital supporters
Daily Review Online - Jun 9, 2009
By Karen Holzmeister—The Eden Township Healthcare District board of directors,left to right, Harry Dvorsky, Rajendra Ratnesar, Vin Sawhney, Carole Rogers …
Officials Explain Plans for San Leandro Hospital Eden, county …
By San Leandro Times - Jun 10, 2009—Cars had to be parked blocks away and stacks of extra chairs were put out as the district heard presentations from Alameda County Medical Center (ACMC) as well as a new contender, Prime Healthcare Services. More …
The Citizen: Supes Approve Eden EIR; Miley urges Hospital Owners …
June 10, 2009
By Steven Tavares—Sutter Health is closer to breaking ground on their new $400 million hospital at Eden Medical Center. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the long-awaited final environmental impact report (FEIR) Tuesday …
Pleasanton Weekly Supervisors OK plan to rebuild Eden Medical …
Jun 10, 2009 - Supervisors OK plan to rebuild Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley New hospital to be renamed Sutter Medical would open in 2013 …
‘Do the right thing’ regarding San Leandro Hospital, health panel …
Jun 11, 2009 - Daily Review Online - CA, USA … favor of an Alameda County-operated rehabilitation unit and urgent-care center, as urged by Sutter Health, which now leases and operates the hospital…
Entire Eden Healthcare Board Advised of Conflict of Interest
SECOND EDEN TOWNSHIP HEARING DRAWS LARGE NUMBERS
Thursday, June 11, 2009—An already confusing and critical decision making process is taking a turn for the worst in backroom politics…
Alameda Supervisors OK Eden’s $320M rebuild in Castro Valley
San Francisco Business Times - by Chris Rauber
June 12, 2009 - Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley won approval from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to move forward with its $320 million seismic rebuild late Tuesday …
By Cassandra Clark, Project Communications Director
After much debate and public input, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to certify the EIR (Environmental Impact Report) and approve the zoning and land use entitlements for the new hospital to replace 54-year-old Eden Medical Center.
Passage of the EIR and land use entitlement approvals is a major milestone for the Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley project—and the communities that will be served by this new, state-of-the-art hospital and adjoining medical office building.
About 20 speakers addressed the Board of Supervisors about the new hospital as well as concerns about future plans for San Leandro Hospital. Eden President & CEO George Bischalaney expressed to the Board members the overwhelming support for the new hospital, even among those who encouraged rejection of the EIR to “save San Leandro Hospital.” Bischalaney and others urged Board members not to delay approvals in order to meet “a very tight project timeline” and advised the Board not to tie the new hospital project to the uncertainty around San Leandro Hospital’s future.
In the end, the Board of Supervisors maintained that its obligation was to make a decision on the land use entitlement proposal before them. However, Board members promised to continue to work with Sutter and the District to come up with an optimal plan for San Leandro Hospital, and to meet the health care needs of the communities.
We are grateful to the many people of Eden Medical Center, San Leandro Hospital and our communities for participating in this process. We had tremendous support at both Board of Supervisors meetings, through the petitions, and all the phone calls and letters of encouragement.
What Happens Now?
The Board’s approval clears the way for SMCCV to use the designated property to build the new hospital, which will be on the northwest side of the Eden Medical Center campus, adjacent to the existing hospital.
In the coming weeks, we will file the appropriate permits to begin work on the land, including the demolition of the vacant apartment building and other site improvements, and the foundation work for the actual construction of the new hospital. Oversight and approval for the further construction is handled by the
California Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development.
The immediate work around the campus will get the land ready for construction and help minimize delays so we can proceed with building the new hospital as soon as possible in order to meet the deadline for State-mandated earthquake safety requirements.
We look forward to moving ahead with the project. As always, your questions and comments are welcome on this blog and on our social networks!
We could really use your support! The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will meet this Tuesday, June 9th, at 1:00 p.m. to make the final decision whether or not to build the new hospital to replace Eden Medical Center and pass the FEIR (Final Environmental Impact Report). We all know the value of having a hospital in our own backyards.
The meeting starts at 1:00, but Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley is on the agenda at 2:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Administration Building, Board Chambers, 1221 Oak Street, 5th Floor, Room 512, in Oakland. If you would like to read the Board’s agenda in advance, please click and download the PDF file here (see page 2).
We are also still taking signatures on the online petition, if you want to add your name and comments there. Additionally, your comments are always welcome here on this blog.
George Bischalaney, President and CEO, Eden Medical Center
By George Bischalaney, President & CEO, Eden Medical Center
On May 12, 2009, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors deferred action on the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and related actions needed to begin the redevelopment of the Eden Medical Center campus.
The delays were for the most part caused by the late submission of information from a group opposing the approval. Their opposition stems from a misguided effort to link the future of the San Leandro Hospital to the future of the new Eden campus hospital. Opponents contend there is a nexus in the decision making as well as an unaddressed impact to the new Eden hospital.
Our initial assessment is twofold. First, the future of each hospital is distinct from the other. The Board of Supervisors’ actions regarding the Eden redevelopment will not affect the decision process to determine how the San Leandro campus will be used in the future. Secondly, there was very little or nothing new in the comments that actually addressed the EIR itself. Hopefully, the Board will draw the same conclusion and move forward with the needed approvals on June 9th.
Eden Medical Center has been the designated trauma center for Southern Alameda County for more than 20 years. It has served thousands of patients over that time, including victims of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that shut down the Bay Bridge and collapsed the Nimitz Freeway in Oakland. It is absolutely critical that Eden is replaced as soon as possible. Earthquakes, like all natural disasters, are unpredictable. People will rightfully ask why we weren’t prepared if avoidable delays in preparing for the inevitable are not overcome. We have a need to rise above politics and special interests to meet a greater obligation of the health and well being of the community of being served. People of good will and with good intentions can do so. Let’s hope we see this kind of sentiment on June 9th.
You can take action and sign a petition to the Board of Supervisors and urge them to stop delays and vote yes on the EIR. Please take a moment to sign the petition at the link below.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/rebuild-eden-medical-center
Thank you for your continued support of the new hospital.
By Cassandra Clark, Project Communications Director
To follow up on the May 12, 2009 Alameda County Board of Supervisors meeting, the decision to certify the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been delayed to June 9th to address concerns raised about San Leandro Hospital, which is leased and operated as part of Eden Medical Center, but owned by the Eden Township Healthcare District (the District). For more information, please see our previous blog post.
In the days prior to the May 12th meeting, after many rounds of public commentary, and after the EIR and related land use entitlements were approved by the Castro Valley MAC (Municipal Advisory Council) and the Alameda County Planning Commission, several community members and labor representatives raised last minute concerns about parts of the EIR. Those opposed to the EIR certification claim that there was not an adequate assessment of the impact of any possible closure or change of services at San Leandro Hospital, despite the fact that the EIR consultant and County planning staff have stated that the EIR is complete and the issues around San Leandro Hospital, while not related to the project, have no impact on the project. Supervisor Nate Miley made a motion for the Board to meet again to make the decision on June 9, 2009, which would provide attorneys for Alameda County an opportunity to examine these claims in more detail.
Supervisors Miley and Haggerty voiced their concerns about speakers making false or misleading allegations as a political tactic, in order to delay the EIR approval process, thereby “holding the Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley project for ransom,” which he and the other Supervisors warned could endanger the future of both Eden and San Leandro Hospitals. While there has been no decision by Sutter Health or the District on the future of San Leandro Hospital, the issue remains a topic of community discussion.
Eden Medical Center President & CEO George Bischalaney and other Sutter and Eden project team members emphasized the urgency of not going beyond June 9th to approve the EIR, as the delay of even a month could significantly hold up construction and may cause Sutter Health to withdraw its support from both hospitals. Sutter Health has already promised the $320 million to pay for the completion of the new Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley.
At the conclusion of the May 12th meeting, the four Supervisors present, with Supervisor Keith Carson absent, voiced their support for the new hospital project and the need to rebuild Eden Medical Center. They also are concerned about the future of San Leandro Hospital, and that concerns over San Leandro should perhaps be discussed in another forum, unrelated to the land use entitlements for Eden.
As our project team discussed in previous articles and blog posts and at the hearing, any delays in approvals and construction have serious repercussions, in terms of meeting state deadlines to rebuild, in creating a safe environment for patients and staff, and in funding this major project. The new hospital must be rebuilt, or it will close as an acute care facility effective January 1, 2013. We now have before us a fully funded hospital project—without public funding or taxes—that will secure the future of Eden Medical Center, preserve jobs and bring nearly 1,000 construction jobs to the region at a time when the economy is depressed and construction is drying up.
As I stated before, the issues around San Leandro Hospital are complex and important. The community has a right to know what is happening. But the information being discussed now is no different that it has been for the past several years: the hospital is struggling and must be reinvented to bring value to the community and ensure that it can sustain itself over time. It is clear to me that the residents of San Leandro desire a full service community hospital, yet the majority of them will never use it. The community and local elected officials have known that this is a concern, and yet this last minute effort to stop the EIR based on what some claim to be “new information” is not justified. San Leandro Hospital, its employees, physicians and patients need to be part of the solution for the hospital, to be discussed in its own forum with regional providers who can bring truth and substance to the discussion. It should not be used as a political maneuver to stop Sutter Health from rebuilding Eden.
Please speak up, let our Board of Supervisors know they must not delay any further. These delays put both hospitals in jeopardy. I encourage you to stand up and let your voice be heard on this issue. Don’t just wait for the next hearing, but instead pick up the phone or send a letter to the Board and let them know you support the new hospital project, and encourage them to certify the EIR so the project can move forward before it’s too late.
Call today!
Supervisor Nate Miley — 510-272-6694
Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker — 510-272-6693
Supervisor Gail Steele — 510-272-6692
Supervisor Keith Carson — 510-272-6695
Supervisor Scott Haggerty — 510-272-6691
By Cassandra Clark, Project Communications Director
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
We are only a week away from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors hearing in which the Board will consider the Final Environmental Impact Report, zoning changes, and Castro Valley general plan changes. We are asking for your support at this critical step.
Local groups and some residents of San Leandro are applying fierce political pressure on the Board members to deny approval. Their reason? The future of San Leandro Hospital is unknown, and therefore they are pressuring the Board of Supervisors to require Sutter Health to keep San Leandro Hospital open as a condition of approving the land use for the new hospital in Castro Valley.
What wrong with this? First of all, the Board of Supervisors are not voting on the future of San Leandro Hospital—they are having a public hearing on the land use entitlements and certifying the EIR. To delay or deny approval based on pressure about San Leandro is wrong.
The future of San Leandro Hospital is not and should not be tied to the new hospital. Indeed, San Leandro Hospital is a critical issue that must be addressed—and it requires a regional solution, more careful planning, and a separate focus than this project. It’s an important issue that cannot be overlooked, for the sake of the staff, physicians and patients. But the complex issues at one hospital should not be tied to the land use entitlements for the new hospital project.
Simply stated, by delaying plans for the new hospital, the Board will jeopardize the future of Eden AND San Leandro hospitals.
I am asking you to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting on May 12 and SPEAK UP in favor of our new hospital. Speakers are limited to 3 minutes, but a simple 30-second statement is powerful. The Board needs to know that residents of Castro Valley and surrounding communities want and need this new hospital, without delays.
Meeting details:
Tuesday, May 12
1:00 p.m.
Board of Supervisors Meeting Chambers
1221 Oak Street, Oakland
If you cannot attend the meeting, we need to you to contact the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and have you voice your opinion. It is so important that the Board hears from everyone, especially since the majority of people in our community support this project (an astounding 80% of community members are in favor according to recent polls!).
Call your Supervisors today!
Supervisor Nate Miley — 510-272-6694
Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker — 510-272-6693
Supervisor Gail Steele — 510-272-6692
Supervisor Keith Carson — 510-272-6695
Supervisor Scott Haggerty — 510-272-6691
Thank you for your continued support!
As always, we also appreciate your comments and questions on this blog, and we’ll respond as quickly as possible.
The new Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley, which will replace Eden Hospital.
Photo of 2008 FIATECH CETI Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Cassandra Clark
Project Communications Director
Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley
Cell: (510) 305-6262
Cathryn Hrudicka and Shelly Gordon
CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. — May 4, 2009 — Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley (SMCCV), the new hospital that will replace Eden Medical Center, won the 2008 FIATECH CETI award, presented to the design team in April.
FIATECH is a consortium within the building industry that provides global leadership in the implementation of new methodologies and technologies to deliver the highest value for commercial construction projects. The CETI award recognized the SMCCV project team for its innovative approach and use of technologies to design and plan construction of the new hospital in an accelerated timeframe.
To comply with California legislation requiring that by 2013 every hospital meet construction criteria to withstand a major earthquake, SMCCV has approximately five years to build the new hospital and open its doors for business, two years less than the time it typically takes for a project of this magnitude.
According to Digby Christian, senior project manager for SMCCV, “To drive two years out of the schedule the team had to abandon the conventional concepts of designing and planning, and come together as a wide-ranging, multi-company team involving SMCCV, and the designers and builders, and transform the design and construction process.
“The team is now on track to achieve the 2013 goal and we did it primarily by redesigning the design process itself in a rigorous and unrelenting fashion so that it no longer bears any real resemblance to the traditional process.”
Two key strategies made it possible to shore up the SMCCV construction timeline—and win the FIATECH CETI award. First, with the goal of designing for fabrication, SMCCV assembled all construction trades involved in the project to have them participate in the design process upfront and arrive at the shop drawing stage together. These drawings tell in detail how every element in the building will be fabricated, then located, i.e., steel, concrete, plumbing, air-conditioning, light fixtures, cabinetry, etc.
The second strategy was to have a working design of the hospital in three dimensions, allowing individual contractors to each use their own preferred modeling software and then developing a process to integrate the various renderings that ensures that what is being designed is actually what will be built on schedule, within budget and without any last minute compromises on the finished product.
“While this concept has been discussed for the last few years within the industry and parts of this new approach have been implemented in other projects, no building construction project has carried out this concept as broadly and deeply for a project as complex as SMCCV,” added Christian.
“On the Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley project we have designed for fabrication a building that has been fully reviewed for pricing and constructability before construction ever starts. We are breaking new ground ahead of any other project in the country in the way such projects are handled.”
About Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley
Sutter Health will fund the development and construction of this state-of-the-art hospital on the Eden Medical Center campus in Castro Valley. This is the largest investment for a healthcare facility in central Alameda County, totaling nearly $400 million, to meet the state’s stringent earthquake safety mandate. Sutter Health’s investment includes the construction of the new hospital, medical office building, campus improvements and the deconstruction of the old hospital once services are transferred to the new facility. The existing medical center will remain open during construction, with minimal disruption to services. Sutter Health has committed to the continuation of essential health care services in the new hospital, including the Emergency Department, Trauma Center, Neuroscience Center, maternity and other medical and surgical care.
# # #
Please see the Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley blog post about this award for further information.
By Digby Christian, Project Team Leader
We are proud to tell you that on April 7, 2009, the Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley (SMCCV) project team received the 2008 FIATECH CETI Award at the award gala held in Las Vegas.
FIATECH is an industry consortium within the building industry. Its primary mission is to get all the “players” involved in capital projects to adopt new ways of thinking and new technologies to deliver higher value for the funders and end-users of construction projects.
Here is why our team won the award…
As most of our readers know, California’s deadline for retrofitting or building earthquake-proof hospitals from scratch is 2013, less than four years from now. The hospital project in its current form was validated as viable in August 2007, and design work was authorized to start in October of that year, leaving us just over five years to have the building be ready and open for business. Typically, in California, it takes at least seven years for a project of this magnitude.
So the team had to throw out all historical concepts of how design is done and come together as a wide-ranging, multi-company team involving the owner, the designers and the builders, and transform the design and construction process to drive two years out of the schedule. The team is now on track to achieve just that and did it primarily by redesigning the design process in a rigorous and unrelenting fashion, so that it no longer bears any real resemblance to tradition!
If you are familiar with the classic design process, you’ll know that it’s typically abbreviated as “SD-DD-CD”: Schematic Design (broad concepts typically discussed and agreed to by the owner and the architect exclusively); Design Development (often a General Contractor might have some involvement in this); and Construction Drawings (some trades might be brought on board to inform how these are put together). Then, the work goes out to the building community and those companies develop what are known as Shop Drawings. These drawings show in detail how every little and large item in the building will be fabricated, i.e., the structural elements, including steel, metal, glass, concrete, etc.
On the SMCCV project, all of the people who typically are brought in at the end are already on board, and most of them have been on board since August 2007. By the time this project completes its approval process through the County and State we will already be at the Shop Drawing stage. The building is being designed for fabrication now, while the design approval process is underway.
While this concept has been discussed for the last few years within the industry, and parts of the above have been implemented on other projects, no project has implemented this concept as broadly and as deeply as the SMCCV project; certainly not on a project this large and this complex. It is one of the reasons our project won the FIATECH award!
The other primary reason we won the award is because of how thoroughly the building has been designed in three dimensions (as opposed to the typical two dimensional paper drawings we are used to seeing). There are many very attractive shots of 3D design that you can find on websites, and in trade magazines but you can’t tell if the designs are any good—all you know is they look “cool.” But on the SMCCV project, we bring the entire team together at least every two weeks to work through the coordination effort. It’s painstaking and difficult, but utterly critical to a successful outcome in a shorter timeframe.
What is not often understood outside the industry, and to some extent even within the industry, is that different design disciplines use different software, and they can’t see each other’s work in real time while they are designing. Each company has to either import a converted file of each other’s work or send both files to a third package, such as Autodesk Navisworks, to see both designs at the same time. So it’s all too easy to have a poorly coordinated, unbuildable, three dimensional design—no different in fact than having a poorly coordinated, unbuildable, two dimensional design.
In addition, we have focused the team on the larger goal of designing for fabrication rather than the industry convention of designing to produce the construction documentation, which is then coordinated by the construction team. The team’s goal to design for fabrication means we are swimming against the tide. We are allowing our companies to each use their own best-in-class software and then developing a process that allows a high level of coordination and constructability to ensure that what is being designed is actually what we will build.
The above might seem dry and technical; however, by a) having a multi-company team involving all the construction trades from day one; b) throwing out the baggage of a poor design process and starting from scratch to build a better one; and c) having a goal of designing for fabrication will allow us to build a new hospital on schedule, within budget, and without any last minute compromises on the finished product.
On the Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley project, we are breaking new ground ahead of any other project in the country in the way such projects are handled. That, in essence is the reason why the team that is building your hospital won the 2008 FIATECH CETI Award.
In addition to the Sutter Health project team, I want to personally thank The Devenney Group, DPR Construction, Capital Engineering, The Engineering Enterprise, TMAD Taylor & Gaines, GHAFARI Associates, J W McClenahan, Morrow Meadows, Superior Air Handling, MPS Project Management, Navigant Consulting, Greenwood & Moore Engineering, Herrick Steel, Otis Elevators, Strategic Project Solutions, Royal Glass, Clark Pacific, Candela, Sparling, and numerous other specialty trade vendors for making it possible to receive this award—and to meet our 2013 deadline!
For all you construction buffs, or for anyone who is interested, check out FIATECH at http://www.fiatech.org/.
I welcome your questions and comments!
Jesus Armas
By Jesús Armas, Government Affairs Liaison
As we discussed in previous posts, acute care hospitals must meet certain earthquake standards by 2013. Failure to meet these standards means that hospitals must cease operations. Recognizing the critical role Eden Medical Center plays in meeting the health care needs of the community, Sutter Health previously expressed its commitment to build a new, state-of-the-art hospital in Castro Valley. Yet, this important project can move forward only if it obtains certain approvals from the County.
We are pleased to report that this project is getting closer to becoming a reality as a result of important decisions by the Alameda County Planning Commission.
On April 6, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that it certify the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and modify various General Plan and zoning regulations to allow this project to advance closer to the start of construction.
During the Commission meeting some public speakers expressed concern about the future of San Leandro Hospital. While the Commissioners acknowledged the points expressed by the speakers, they also expressed their unwavering support for this project, and stressed the importance of not imposing obstacles to the start of construction.
With a favorable recommendation from the Commission, project consideration now advances to the Board of Supervisors. UPDATE: On May 12th, the Board will hold a public hearing on the project (postponed from the original date of April 28th). At that time, the Board will be asked to approve the project based on overwhelmingly favorable public testimony to date, and positive recommendations not only from the Alameda County Planning Commission but also the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council and County Planning Staff. Assuming a favorable Board action, site work will commence this summer. Overall, construction will take between 24 and 30 months.
We will update this blog with additional information about the Board of Supervisors meeting on May 12th when we are notified. As always, we welcome your questions, concerns and comments.
Rendering courtesy of the Devenney Group
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.
From: Sutter Health
Publication Date: 4/1/2009, at 12:00:00 AM
SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 1 /PRNewswire/ — The Sutter Health network of doctors, hospitals and other health care service providers is California’s top-ranking health system in health care quality, according to the respected Lewin Group, an independent health care policy and research firm.
The Lewin Group produces rankings of America’s 120 largest health systems. Its latest study uses quality and patient satisfaction data from 2007, as reported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on its Hospital Compare Web site. Sutter Health was listed the best in California and 30th nationwide in the study.
“Findings of this respected quality study reflect the dedication of our hard-working employees — from clinical staff to those who work behind the scenes. It confirms that Sutter Health has further improved health care quality for patients,” said Gordon Hunt, M.D., senior vice-president and chief medical officer for Sutter Health.
Providing quality care to patients is a top priority for Sutter Health. The not-for-profit network participates in a variety of voluntary as well as requisite programs that publicly report important patient satisfaction, cost, utilization and quality of care measures.
Sutter affiliates also work together on a number of clinical initiatives that help to further improve patient care. These initiatives draw upon evidence-based medicine and include using established guidelines, standardized protocols and clinical outcome goals to advance quality. Read how Sutter Health is improving quality for patients at http://www.sutterhealth.org/about/quality/index.html.
“Although we are extremely proud of our placement, we’re always looking for ways to do better — to continue to improve care, increase safety and provide better outcomes for the patients we serve,” added Dr. Hunt.
About Sutter Health
Serving patients and their families in more than 100 Northern California cities and towns, Sutter Health doctors, hospitals and other health care service providers join resources and share expertise to advance health care quality and access. The Sutter Medical Network includes many of California’s top-performing, highest quality physician organizations as measured annually by the Integrated Healthcare Organization. Sutter-affiliated hospitals are regional leaders in cardiac care, women’s and children’s services, cancer care, orthopedics and advanced patient safety technology. For more information about the not-for-profit Sutter Health family, please visit www.sutterhealth.org.
By Cassandra Clark, Project Communications Director
This week, the Alameda County Planning Department presented the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Sutter Castro Valley Medical Center and related documents to the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council for review and approval. The Council is an advisory board of seven community members who work on behalf of the unincorporated town of Castro Valley and serves as advisor to Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley.
This is one more essential step toward approvals to allow the new hospital project to move forward. The meeting drew a large crowd interested in the future of Eden Medical Center and in health care in the region. Many audience members spoke highly of the project and showed their support for Eden and the new hospital.
There were several members of the audience in attendance who voiced their concerns about the future of San Leandro Hospital, located 4.5 miles from Eden and struggling to survive in these tough economic times. The 93-bed hospital is part of Eden Medical Center and provides services to the San Leandro community.
There has been much discussion about the future of this hospital due to significant financial losses and decreased utilization. While the future of San Leandro Hospital is still unknown, it is clear that it cannot continue as it is today. Sutter Health and the Eden Township Health Care District (the owner of San Leandro Hospital) are working toward a solution for the hospital so that it continues to provide health care services in a way that meets the needs of the community.
While members voiced their concerns about San Leandro Hospital, they moved forward and approved the issue before them: the land use entitlements and EIR for the Castro Valley project. There was no opposition based on the merits of the project, the land use, nor the environmental impact. What the Council did ask was for the Board of Supervisors, in their approval process, to consider if San Leandro Hospital’s future has an impact on this project.
The next step in the approval process is the Alameda County Planning Commission (April 6) and the Board of Supervisors (April 28)—and both of these are opportunities for us to address how this project will serve the region’s health care needs. But without these land use approvals, the Castro Valley project cannot move forward. And, as we have stated so many times before, this essential project must advance on an accelerated timeline in order to meet the state-mandated deadline of January 1, 2013. After that date, the existing hospital can no longer function as an acute care hospital and must close its doors.
Solving health care problems requires intensive and collaborative efforts. It’s a regional issue, not one that can be solved by one organization alone. What is certain is that we have a new hospital project before us that is fully funded, without tax or public funds, and the first to come forward in Alameda County to meet the State’s earthquake safety standards. It is an amazing project, and one that should not be held back while health care providers in the region work toward a viable solution for San Leandro and other hospitals that are struggling to survive.
We’ll have more information on these issues as they evolve, from experts far more experienced than me. So, in the meantime, I encourage you to view the video prepared for the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council by our architects, the Devenney Group. The animation is a fly-over and fly-through of the new hospital and campus. Enjoy!
Dr. Steven J. Rosenthal, named Physician Patient Safety Champion of the Year 2008, Eden Medical Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Gwendolyn D. McClain
Director of PR & Government Affairs
Office: (510) 727-2720
Cell: (510) 305-6579
Email
San Leandro, CA - March 25, 2009 - Steven J. Rosenthal, M.D., a physician with Eden Medical Center, San Leandro campus since 1980, and current President of the Eden Medical Center medical staff, has been awarded Eden’s Physician Patient Safety Champion for 2008.
Over 1,500 employees and 500 on-staff physicians cast their votes each month for Eden doctors who demonstrate excellence in a dozen categories related to patient quality and safety. During 2008, Dr. Rosenthal, who is board-certified in geriatric and internal medicine, was nominated in six of the 12 categories, receiving more nominations than any other physician.
“Dr. Rosenthal has been quietly taking excellent care of patients at San Leandro Hospital for the last three decades; he is not one to grab the spotlight,” said George Bischalaney, CEO of Eden Medical Center. “But after 12 months of voting, our employees have concluded that Dr. Rosenthal exemplifies our best practices for ensuring patients get the safest care.
“Based on ballot results and employee comments, Dr. Rosenthal is being honored for consistently having the patients’ best interests at heart, while treating everyone on the care team with respect and appreciation.”
Preventing Medical Mistakes
Eden Medical Center formed a Patient Safety Committee in 2001 to set standards for health care teams to make sure patients receive the highest quality of care while preventing medical errors. Since poor communication can contribute to a catastrophic event, the Committee adapted SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation), a framework originated by the U.S. Navy, for members of the care team to communicate about a patient’s condition, regardless of their role on the team.
From an illegible drug prescription to a doctor handing off a patient to a colleague, to empowering nurses to request the physician’s presence at the patient’s bedside, the Committee has provided a focused way to set expectations for what needs to be communicated and how to do it effectively.
The Committee also sends out monthly ballots inviting doctors and hospital employees to evaluate physicians on official patient safety practices. Among the categories for which Dr. Rosenthal received more nominations in the ballot vote, are:
- routinely demonstrates a desire to adopt new evidence-based practices that improve the quality and/or safety of care provided to our patients
- consistently demonstrates respect for every team member, every time
- demonstrates consistently clear written communications that both staff and patients can understand
Kent Meyers, Chairman of the Eden Medical Center Board of Directors, presented the award to Dr. Rosenthal on March 3, 2009. Dr. Rosenthal serves on the Patient Safety Committee and is a member of Eden’s 100% Club for Core Measures.
Eden Medical Center
Eden Medical Center is a not-for-profit, community-based medical center that includes Eden Hospital, San Leandro Hospital and Laurel Grove Acute Rehabilitation Hospital. By working together, Eden Medical Center’s physicians, volunteers and dedicated employees ensure that the community has access to exceptional medical, surgical, psychiatric and rehabilitative services. Eden offers a wide range of health and wellness classes, support groups and specialty services for the entire family. For a complete listing or to explore our full library of health information, visit Eden online.
To find out about the new Sutter hospital that will be replacing Eden Medical Center, visit http://www.suttermedicalcentercastrovalley.org.
# # #
By Jack Alotto, President & CEO of Eden Medical Center Foundation
My name is Jack Alotto. I am the President & CEO of Eden Medical Center Foundation. I’ve been raising money for non-profit organizations for more than 20 years in health care as well as the arts and social services. At Seton Medical Center Foundation in Daly City, we raised more than $1 million and increased Seton’s employee giving campaign by 600% in my first year.
I also started the first planned giving program for the City Library of Santa Clara, California. We even created a used bookstore and café called Friends of the Library—we made great cappuccinos!
For the past two years now, I’ve been steering the ship at Eden Foundation, and we are fortunate to have a very active board with 17 members, including Lawrence Dickinson, M.D., one of the top neurosurgeons in the East Bay and our board chairman.
All the money we raise helps ensure that patients and the community we care for have the most technologically advanced, highest quality care available. We pay for medical equipment, clinical training and continuing education for our staff, plus health education seminars for our community, and health care for our uninsured residents.
I’m proud to say that in the last two years we’ve raised more than $4,000,000, while keeping our costs surprisingly low. We owe our highest admiration and heartfelt gratitude to you, our patients and members of the community for your generous donations and participation in our special events. And a special thank you to our physicians and employees who give the Foundation tremendous support.
Take a look at the prolific list of equipment and community service programs your donations paid for last year. Donor Gifts Have Gone a Long Way in 2008…
With contributions from individuals, physicians and staff, corporations and foundations, Eden Medical Center Foundation has made the following gifts to Eden Medical Center:
Tools to Enhance Patient Care
• A new CT Scanner for San Leandro Hospital provides improved diagnostic services to inpatients and outpatients
• Laerdal Airway Management Training equipment for trauma nurses to sharpen their airway management skills through realistic practice
• Two blood pressure/pulse ox/temperature monitors keep triage equipment up-to-date
• Four new trauma monitors providing state-of-the-art monitoring of trauma patients to enable health care providers to have immediate and ongoing assessment of trauma patients
• An exercise bicycle at Laurel Grove Hospital helps rehabilitation patients recover more quickly
• A golf cart for Food and Nutritional Services provides prompt service to patients and reduce the risk of injury to employees
• New IV poles and wheelchairs help nurses and department staff to provide better patient care
• A new LCD/DVD supports ongoing training for Emergency Room and trauma staff
• Bladder scanners allow the neurology/medical/surgical unit and 5th floor surgery department to perform noninvasive monitoring for postoperative patients
• A JUZO Perometer in Rehabilitation Services enhances the level of patient care provided to lymphedema patients
• X-ray imaging is performed during vascular and orthopedic surgical procedures through the use of a radiolucent surgical table
• A pediatric bronchoscope is life-saving equipment trauma surgeons use to address breathing problems of children in the trauma center, thus saving a trip to the operating room.
• Radiology techs underwent training on the best use of the Toshiba Fluoroscopy and Multi-Purpose room to facilitate better patient care.
Community Services
• Free senior flu clinics were held at San Leandro Hospital and Eden Medical Center
• A Women’s Health Symposium at Eden Medical Center provided an evening of free education on the health risks women face
• Eden Medical Center hosts five cancer support groups for patients and families facing cancer, caregivers and for people mourning a loss.
• Continuing education for nurses keeps Eden’s nurses up-to-date on the latest in health care
• Students at Skyline High School, San Leandro High School and Castro Valley High School go through the anti-alcohol and drug program, Every 15 Minutes
• Social Work Services provides shelter for transients recovering from a wound
• Support for Spiritual Care volunteers working in Social Work Services department
• GE Medical Systems Bone Densitometry Screening equipment allows Eden provide free screening at health fairs and community events
• Community members and Eden employees can take part in smoking cessation programs
• Emergency First Aid Guidelines assist local school staff members in responding to emergencies until medical staff can arrive.
Besides funding projects for our two hospitals in Castro Valley and San Leandro, we have taken on raising money for Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley, the hospital that will replace Eden Medical Center.
My vision is that once the doors open, our Foundation will pay for anything the new medical center needs! We have already started our fundraising efforts; last year’s Golf Tournament, which netted more than $60,000, was the first fundraiser on behalf of the new buildings.
So here is our wish list for Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley:
Equipment Enhancements
The Need: $25 million
Your generous contribution could provide technological and equipment updates so doctors and nurses can provide patients at the new Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley with the best in medical care. Advancements in technology for medical tools and equipment mean patients can experience less pain and discomfort, and doctors can perform less invasive procedures. This can translate into shorter recovery times and decreased hospital stays so patients can go home sooner. We constantly strive to improve a patient’s health care experience and state-of-the-art equipment and technology helps us to meet this goal.
Intensive Care, Critical Care and Trauma Center Upgrades
The Need: $15 million
Consider making a gift to help patients in intensive care, critical care and trauma comfortably and safely recover from surgery and other medical procedures. New beds, patient monitors, bedside equipment, and state-of –the-art nurse call systems will improve a patient’s stay and help doctors and nurses better attend to the needs of each patient.
Medical and Surgical Floor Enhancements
The Need: $6 million
Philanthropic support will help us purchase beds and other patient room equipment for Labor and Delivery, the Neuroscience Center and Medical and Surgical Units.
Outpatient Surgery Enhancements
The Need: $3 million
Higher image quality and patient comfort are combined in the newest tools used by physicians and nurses. Your generous gift will enable the Outpatient Surgery Department to replace older, outdated equipment with the latest technology at the new hospital.
We have many giving programs and named gift opportunities available to our donors. If you would like more information about our work at the Foundation and how you can support the new hospital, please call me at the Foundation office at 510-889-5033, or email me.
We invite you to visit the new You Can Help page on this blog and donate safely and securely online.
We’re hosting another Community Open House on Wednesday night, March 18th, from 7:00-8:30 p.m., at the Eden Hospital Conference Center, 20103 Lake Chabot Road, in Castro Valley, California. You’ll be able to see more of the architectural renderings of the beautiful new Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley and get an update on our progress. You’ll learn more about the proposed schedule for construction, and get answers to your questions and concerns. We’ll be serving refreshments, and members of our project team will be available to talk with you. We look forward to seeing you there!
You can also stay informed by reading this blog regularly, especially if you subscribe by email or RSS feed. Just click on the orange RSS icon on the right side of the blue bar above for simple subscription instructions.
If you’re on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, FriendFeed, or other social networks, you’re invited to connect with us online. The links to our social network communities are in the right side bar. Our blog is also now featured in Alltop, in the Health section!
Please let us know if you’re a member of another online neighborhood, health care or business network that members of our project team might join to discuss plans for the new medical center. We would be glad to participate!
George Bischalaney, President and CEO, Eden Medical Center
By George Bischalaney, President & CEO, Eden Medical Center
Last week, the Obama Administration kicked off its efforts to address one the President’s stated priorities, health care reform. What does that mean, and what will be the result? I wish I really knew.
According to the President’s advisers—and Obama himself during the campaign—there is a need to extend health care coverage to millions of uninsured people across the country, while reducing cost and improving quality. Truly admirable goals with which very few could disagree.
Early discussion of President Obama’s plan calls for creating a savings of $634 billion over the next ten years to help fund reform. A recent article referred to this as a “down payment” on the overall expected costs. About half of this amount is targeted to come from reduced payments to Medicare and Medicaid (known as Medi-Cal in California) providers. On the surface, this is a disquieting concept.
Not too long ago, Eden Medical Center was recognized as one of lowest cost hospital providers in California. It should be no surprise that our costs have risen over the past few years. We have invested heavily in new equipment, both in medical technology and information technology, in order to continue to bring state-of-the-art services to our communities, and to provide our physicians and clinical staff the best tools to diagnose and treat our patients.
Last year, our labor settlement with registered nurses resulted in a three-year agreement that will give the nurses a 20% wage increase over the term of the agreement in addition to improved benefits. This kept our wages comparable to other local hospitals.
One of the benefits Eden Medical Center employees enjoy is a fully paid health plan for themselves and their families. Last year, the average cost was approximately $22,000 per year for an employee and family.
Despite these costs, Eden remains one of the lowest cost providers when compared to peer groups throughout the State. But as can be imagined, it is difficult to contain costs in our environment, especially when 60% of our costs are employee-related expenses. We are, after all, a service industry that is people- and technologically-driven.
The early announcements about health care reform create some concern. To expect to realize the savings needed to fund the plan through reduced payments to health care providers is very troubling.
Physicians are increasingly affected by efforts to reduce reimbursement. Many physicians talk of extending their days, working longer hours, much of which is devoted to the increasing amount of paperwork demanded from them. At the same time, we as patients expect them to remain current in the knowledge of new drugs and treatments in order to serve us to the best of their ability. This is resulting in a shrinking primary care base at a time when our population is aging. How does the plan for reform intend to address this?
Government payers of healthcare services for hospitals—the Federal Government for Medicare, and the State for Medi-Cal—are not paying the full cost of care at the present time. For each patient that is covered by Medicare or Medi-Cal, the cost to care for that patient exceeds current reimbursement. Further reductions will increase the gap that is, out of necessity, made up by insured patients—those lucky enough to have coverage through their employers. This is a cycle that needs to be broken if we are to have true health care reform.
The problems with our health care system are very complex. Reducing payments in an attempt to reduce costs will not yield the full reforms that are needed. I can only hope that this is not another piecemeal approach to change. A broader view of the systemic issues is needed. With the President’s staff talking about implementing reforms by the end of this year, it is questionable as to whether or not this will actually occur.
As always, your questions and comments are welcome. We will respond as quickly as possible.
By Cassandra Clark, Project Communications Director
Finding access to primary care services is a serious challenge for local residents who are uninsured and underinsured. Many cannot afford routine doctor visits, long-term disease management or other basic services. Often, we see patients in our emergency rooms with advanced illness because they have no access to a regular doctor. Thankfully, in our community, more people have access to low-cost and no-cost medical care because of community-based organizations that help fill the need.
The Davis Street Family Resource Center’s RotaCare Free Acute
Clinic in San Leandro and Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center in Hayward and Union City have been filling that gap by providing primary care, pediatric and dental services to local residents for many years.
So it was welcome and uplifting news when Sutter Health recently awarded $100,000 grants to each of these organizations. Sutter’s Community Clinic Access to Care Grant program is a commitment by the Sutter Health network to improve access to health care services in the communities that it serves.
When Eden Medical Center learned of the available funds through the Community Clinic Access to Care Grant program, the people of Eden immediately thought of these two clinics. Eden has worked with these two organizations for many years, and both are highly regarded clinics in the community.
The $100,000 grant to the RotaCare Clinic is now being used to upgrade equipment and expand the clinic’s hours of operation. More than 60 doctors and nurses—many of whom work at Eden Medical Center and San Leandro Hospital—volunteer one of the four evenings a week that the clinic is open. San Leandro Hospital also provides basic radiology and laboratory services to clinic patients.
Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center is using their $100,000 grant to expand primary care services to residents of unincorporated areas of Cherryland and Ashland. These areas, adjacent to the cities of Hayward and San Leandro, have virtually no medical resources and very few physician offices. The clinic can now expand to these communities and offer primary, pediatric and maternity care.
The RotaCare Clinic and Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center were among 26 medical and dental centers in Northern California that benefited from the more than $2.5 million that Sutter Health’s Community Clinic Access to Care Grant Program awarded. Often, these good works go unnoticed, and so I thought I would share the good news. As always, your questions and comments are welcome.
Jesus Armas
By Jesús Armas, Government Affairs Liaison
Last December, the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley project was released for public review and inspection, and a 45-day public comment period commenced. During this time (the comment period ended January 20, 2009), the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council and the Alameda County Planning Commission held public hearings to present their comments and to receive comments from interested individuals and organizations.
Additionally, the County’s Planning Department made the document available for review in its offices and in the Castro Valley library, and we posted the document here on our site. The local media also helped get the word out that the report was available for public review and comment.
As one of our previous blog posts indicated, the DEIR contains relevant information documenting whether and how the project is expected to impact the environment and how the identified impacts will be lessened. Established procedures determine which issues must be addressed in an EIR, but among the most common are traffic, air quality and noise.
The Planning Department is charged with the responsibility to collect public comments, and to prepare responses to all comments submitted by interested parties. The responses to the comments, together with the Draft EIR, constitute what is called the Final EIR. It is this latter document that is presented to and considered by the governmental body with authority to act on a project.
Now that the environmental review process has been completed, it is possible for the Castro Valley MAC, Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors to consider the merits of the project and decide whether to grant approval to move forward with this important and critical project for our community.
The MAC is tentatively scheduled to consider the project on March 23rd, while the Planning Commission is expected to do so on April 6th. A meeting date for the Board of Supervisors has not yet been established.
Once meeting dates, times, and locations are confirmed, we will post that information. We invite you to return to this site to get the most current information about these important meetings.
Prior to the formal meetings, we will be hosting a community and neighborhood meeting to review the project and respond to your questions in a more informal setting. The meeting will be held at Eden Medical Center’s Conference Center, 20103 Lake Chabot Road in Castro Valley, on March 18th, at 7 p.m. We’ll have some exciting updates for you and a chance to meet and ask questions of the members of the project team.
As always, we welcome your comments at these meetings or on this blog.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Gwendolyn D. McClain
Director of PR & Government Affairs
Office: (510) 727-2720
Cell: (510) 305-6579
Email
Castro Valley, CA – February 19, 2009 — Eden Medical Center has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR). By meeting the rigorous standards of ACR’s voluntary, breast-imaging accreditation programs in four modalities—mammography, stereotactic biopsy, breast ultrasound and breast ultrasound guided biopsy—Eden is the only hospital in Alameda County to receive this prestigious honor.
“Today we are very proud of this achievement,” said Ginny Carpenter, Eden Medical Center’s Director of Radiology. “To become a breast imaging center of excellence is not mandatory. We chose to apply for accreditation, spend the hours and additional expense to get further training in all four modalities, and perform the requisite number of exams.
“Our accreditation from ACR assures that the women who come to Eden for routine mammograms, and, if necessary, breast biopsies, are being screened by highly trained technologists and physicians who use the most advanced equipment to produce and analyze exact images.”
To win accreditation for each breast imaging modality, Eden volunteered to submit to the ACR’s year-long, peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. All equipment is evaluated for operational performance and must have up-to-date licensing.
Technologists have to complete 200 mammogram exams and 24 stereotactic biopsies every two years, in addition to advanced training. Likewise, radiologists are required to analyze images from 960 mammograms every two years, plus 100 ultrasound breast exams, 12 ultrasound biopsies and 12 stereotactic biopsies annually, while also completing further education on each modality.
After achieving high practice standards in image quality, equipment, personnel qualifications, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs, Eden was issued the ACR certificate of accreditation and designated a Breast Center of Excellence on February 3, 2009.
The ACR, headquartered in Reston, VA, is a national organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs for focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology, as well as the delivery of comprehensive health care services.
In addition to the full array of breast imaging services, Eden also offers patients Dual Energy X-ray Absortiometry, or DEXA scanning, the most widely used method to measure bone mineral density. For additional information about the ACR accreditation or Eden Medical Center’s diagnostic imaging services, or to schedule an appointment call (510) 889-5044.
Eden Medical Center
Eden Medical Center is a not-for-profit, community-based medical center that includes Eden Hospital, San Leandro Hospital and Laurel Grove Acute Rehabilitation Hospital. By working together, Eden Medical Center’s physicians, volunteers and dedicated employees ensure that the community has access to exceptional medical, surgical, psychiatric and rehabilitative services. Eden offers a wide range of health and wellness classes, support groups and specialty services for the entire family. For a complete listing or to explore our full library of health information, visit Eden online.
To find out about the new Sutter Health hospital that will be replacing Eden Medical Center visit http://www.suttermedicalcentercastrovalley.org.
# # #
By Cassandra Clark, Project Communications Director
We recently received a comment on our site regarding the relocation of Sazio’s Ristorante Italiano, located across and down the street from Eden Medical Center on Lake Chabot Road. The person asked, “How are you being a good neighbor by driving out a small family-owned business like Sazio’s without any relocation assistance?”
Like every issue, there is more to the story than what appears in the newspapers or is talked about in private circles. That’s why a blog is a great place to raise issues and open up a conversation.
Sazio’s restaurant has been in the same location for many years. They are wonderful people, serving excellent food (the ravioli is my favorite). The restaurant is located on a piece of property that includes single story medical office buildings and a few storefronts, where a sushi restaurant and barbershop were once located. Karen’s Flower Kottage was also on the site before they moved to a new location.
The property was sold to the Eden Township Healthcare District (not Sutter Health or Eden Medical Center) about three years ago. Since the purchase, the District has planned for medical office buildings and related parking to be built on the land.
While I do not speak for the District, it is important to know that every tenant of the property was fully informed that the site would eventually be converted to another use. All existing leases were honored through their expiration dates, or the tenant moved voluntarily, prior to the end of the lease. The owners of Sazio’s chose to wait, rather than take opportunities to move during the past three years. Ultimately, representatives from the District and Sazio’s will determine what lies ahead.
It is also worth noting that the plans for that site are not part of the Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley project. Our project is specifically for the construction of the new hospital and adjacent medical office building, site improvements and eventual deconstruction of the old hospital.
While at first glance it may appear to be all one big construction project on Lake Chabot Road, it is not. We have different owners, different plans, different processes and approvals and even different timeframes. What we have in common is our community’s healthcare needs. The District’s project will benefit physicians in the community—some of whom will be displaced when the new hospital work begins—by providing much needed medical space for their busy practices.
As always, we welcome your questions and comments, and we’ll respond as quickly as possible.
By Todd Peterson, Vice President of Information Technology, Eden Medical Center
My name is Todd Peterson and I’m Vice President of Information Technology at Eden Medical Center. Castro Valley has been my home for the past 26 years, and I’ve worked for Sutter Health for ten years, joining Eden 2 ½ years ago.
My team is responsible for making sure all computer systems are up and fully functioning 24/7; and while computer repair is a significant part of our business, we are responsible for implementing new technologies that are now vital to many aspects of our patients’ care.
One major project underway that will be a cornerstone of the new Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley hospital is Electronic Health Records (EHR), a project conceived when I was still at Sutter. Basically the new hospital is being designed with minimal use of paper. That’s right… no more clipboards and illegible handwriting.
The EHR will facilitate all clinical documentation and reporting; all medical disciplines will be recorded. What does this mean? Our physicians will get a full view of a patient’s care at any given time, from any location, once their patient has been admitted to the hospital. So the patient’s medical history as it relates to diagnostics, drug therapy, procedures, diet, rehabilitation and notes generated by physicians and nurses will all be available online. This also includes previous visits to any Sutter Health-owned facility or physician office.
The EHR will ultimately be integrated with biomedical technology. That means much of the clinical equipment in patient rooms—heart monitors, blood pressure cuffs, IV pumps, and even the beds themselves—will feed information directly into the patient records. With real time monitors of the patient’s vitals, a physician can be alerted if a trend in their medical condition warrants medical attention well before a critical threshold is met. So the EHR will be a documentation system and much more; it will provide clinicians with a wider view of what is happening with a patient at all times so they can quickly take action.
Patient records will also show a correlation of clinical events, a true cause and effect. For example, a physician may order medications in response to laboratory test results. Subsequent laboratory tests can then be correlated to the timing of the medication and will demonstrate the degree of effectiveness. This constant correlation gives the entire care team the information they need to deliver the best care at the right time.
The critical exchange between the doctor who is on call and the nurse on duty will also be enhanced by EHR. Without delay, a physician can access the patient’s record from home, while the nurse views the same information from a workstation in the patient’s room so rather than just rely on a verbal exchange they are both viewing the patient’s record.
One of the key benefits of EHR is patient safety. In the area of medication management, physicians will use computerized order entry to address legibility issues and alert the physician to any contra indications, such as allergies, food or other medications that the patient is on. The process of administering the drug involves the nurse scanning the barcodes on the patient’s wristband and medication bottles. The system will confirm the patient’s name, medication name, correct time, correct dose and proper route (oral, or otherwise).
We will provide full accessibility to patient data. All this information, all images, reports, etc. will be available at the patient’s bedside. Every patient room, alcoves between rooms and nurses’ station will be furnished with a computer workstation so patient records can be accessed throughout the hospital. Physicians will also have wireless devices such as PC tablets to provide the most flexibility and mobility throughout the hospital.
Down the road, our patients who see Sutter Health physicians will be able to see their own clinical results online; they’ll be able to email their doctors and arrange appointments, and more importantly, track their own history and take responsibility for their own health. We may even use EHR to work in concert with our county and state health departments to track health trends in the community.
The prospects for EHR are endless. Our patients and clinicians become real partners in the delivery of care over the long term.
Your input is very important to us. I invite you to ask me any questions about the EHR system by either commenting beneath this post (click on the title of the post, if you are on the blog’s front page, and you’ll see the comment box below), or by emailing me.
Dr. Sidney Wanetick
Sidney Wanetick, M.D.
My name is Sidney Wanetick. For 26 years, I was in practice as an OB-GYN in Castro Valley, and I delivered more than 3,000 babies at Eden Medical Center.
In 2008, I retired from practice to accept the position of Vice President of Medical Affairs at Eden Medical Center. Today, I serve as the administrative liaison between the medical staff and administration, helping to support our physicians as they provide high quality care to our patients now and as we look to the future of Eden.
In addition to other duties, I am actively involved in assisting our physicians in recruiting new physicians to the community.
I’m very excited about the new Sutter Health hospital that is replacing Eden. Several major benefits stand out. In particular, having all private rooms for patients will make a huge difference, bringing more services to their bedsides and giving them more quality time with their doctors.
From the physician’s standpoint, this is a much better way to take care of patients and have important conversations with family members in private, as well as offer patients the privacy and rest needed for recuperation. The nurses’ stations will have a view of every patient’s room for faster response to patient needs.
The whole atmosphere of the new hospital will feel less institutional and more supportive, soothing and restful.
Today, even though Eden has 176 beds, we are unable to utilize all of these beds. Most rooms are semi-private, with very few private rooms and even a few four-bed wards. Yet, we can’t put men and women together, and we can’t mix patients with infections in with the general patient population. So even though Eden is larger, the Sutter replacement hospital will end up with a much better capacity for utilization of services.
Moreover, we are seeing a steady decline in the number of patients admitted to the hospital for more extended periods of time. When I first started my practice we admitted twice as many patients for surgery as we do today. My patients stayed in the hospital for five days or more! Also, if patients were scheduled for surgery, they would be admitted the night before. Today patients often have surgery and are discharged the same day, or, if they are admitted, the average length of stay is much shorter.
In addition to the 130 acute care beds, we’ll have a 34-bed, multi-purpose Universal Care Unit (UCU), which also supports the shorter hospital stay. Let’s say an Emergency Room patient has been treated and needs to stay for observation, but not necessarily be admitted. He or she can rest comfortably in the UCU. Or, if a patient is recovering from same-day surgery, we could have him assigned to a UCU bed where he’ll get the attention he needs.
There will also be vast improvements in our information technology systems that just aren’t possible at Eden; our current system has reached capacity. With the new electronic medical records system, our clinical staff will have access to lab reports, x-rays, medication, etc., right at their fingertips. Recent studies have demonstrated improved outcomes and fewer errors in centers that have electronic records, and the new hospital will have innovative, secure electronic records and data systems.
I welcome your comments and questions. Please feel free to leave a comment by clicking on the title of this post (if you are on the front page of the blog), and a comment box will appear below.
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