Patient Care

Glendale Adventist Medical Center laid off 21 employees Thursday in response to federal healthcare payment reform and other industry shifts, hospital officials said. The cuts - which primarily affected non-clinical employees, including several clerical positions - account for less than 2% of the hospital's workforce of more than 2,500 people and won't affect direct patient care, hospital spokeswoman Alicia Gonzalez said. “It doesn't affect bedside patient care at all,” she said.

More than 100 nurses and support staff picketed outside Glendale Memorial Hospital on Thursday to oppose planned layoffs that they argued would negatively impact patient care at the 334-bed facility. The planned layoffs were announced last week, but hospital officials declined to say how many or which positions would be affected. But on Thursday, Desi Murray, spokesman for the California Nurses Assn., said the hospital had informed the union that on Feb. 15 it would be laying off 41 nursing support staff, which include licensed vocational nurses, nurses aides, monitor technicians and custodial staff.

Ryan Carter Glendale Memorial Hospital officials have completed a round of 29 layoffs -- including workers some say are pivotal nursing assistants -- in an effort to streamline hospital operations and save money. The positions included four middle to senior managements jobs, with the balance being clerical, janitorial and ancillary support services such as food services and unit clerks. Among those laid off include Kay Threlkheld, who was the hospital's director of marketing and communications.

Two hospitals named among the best Two Glendale hospitals were named to a list of America?s 50 best hospitals by HealthGrades, an independent ratings organization that releases the list annually. Glendale Adventist Medical Center and Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center were recognized alongside Los Angeles area facilities Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital and Saint John?s Health Center as elite facilities with effective patient care. The organization announced the distinction in February after reviewing more than 100 million patient records over an eight-year time period.

Jackson Bell A bill co-sponsored by two local state lawmakers seeking to improve nursing-home care has the AARP up in arms. The AARP, formerly the American Assn. of Retired Persons, opposes the bill from Assemblymen Dario Frommer (D-Glendale), Keith Richman (R-La Crescenta) and Tony Strickland (R-Moorpark) because it would increase patient-care reimbursements to nursing homes at unprecedented levels, but does not lay out regulations that would ensure the money goes to patient care, AARP spokesman Michael Moreno said Monday.

LOS ANGELES ? A Long Beach-based law firm filed a class action lawsuit Wednesday against a nursing home operator with facilities in Glendale and Burbank, claiming the company inadequately staffed 31 of its nursing homes, providing patients with substandard care. The claim, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that Longwood Management Corp. understaffed 31 of its Southern California nursing homes ? including one in Glendale and two in Burbank ? and did not meet California's minimum nurse-to-patient care ratios, attorney Stephen Garcia of the Garcia Law Firm said.

SOUTH GLENDALE — Glendale firefighters got a lesson Friday morning on using new cost-saving defibrillators that will give hospitals more information on heart-attack patients and monitor carbon monoxide levels. The new defibrillators will allow firefighters to provide better service to patients and provide care in Los Angeles and Pasadena, Glendale Fire Capt. Cody Smith said. The two cities already have the monitors. "When we respond to those two cities, it is easier for us to move in if we have similar equipment, and it's seamless when we have to give patient care," he said.

LA CA—ADA FLINTRIDGE ? A judge ordered La Cañada Flintridge-based nursing home operator Pleasant Care Corp. Wednesday to pay $1 million in fines and improve the quality of care at its facilities, officials said. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Laura Matz approved a settlement agreement between Pleasant Care Corp. and Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer's Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse ? which filed and settled a civil suit on Wednesday. The suit stemmed from allegations of elder abuse and criminally negligent care at Pleasant Care's facilities, including a nursing home in Glendale, said Nathan Barankin, spokesman for the attorney general's office.

Jackson Bell What Michael Carone likes about Glendale Adventist Medical Center -- besides the food -- is the attention and care given to patients, despite the hospital's rate of growth over the years. "I've watched this hospital expand from something small to what it is today," said Carone, 88, a lifelong Glendale resident. In the next few years, Carone and other patients will see a lot more expansion. Faced with a rising healthcare demand from baby boomers entering senior ages, the hospital is in the early stages of building three new structures on the campus.

Rima Shah As a doctor at Verdugo Hills Hospital for 20 years, John Osterkamp is fully aware of the hospital's needs. Now as the hospital board's new chairman, he is in a position to do something about it. "Now that we can have a little less stress as far as the finances are concerned, we can work on improving the quality of the hospital at the patient care, as well as the TLC aspect," Osterkamp said. His plans to improve the hospital include minor remodeling and adding new surgical equipment.

Nurses, technicians and other employees gathered outside Glendale Memorial Hospital Thursday morning to protest planned layoffs. The hospital last week announced plans to layoff an undetermined number of employees, citing an increase in the number of uninsured patients caused by the lengthy economic recession and cuts in government insurance programs. The 334-bed hospital also reported seeing fewer patients in recent months. One of the city's other major hospitals, Glendale Adventist Medical Center, laid off 21 workers  two months ago in response to federal healthcare payment reform and other industry shifts.

More than 100 nurses and support staff picketed outside Glendale Memorial Hospital on Thursday to oppose planned layoffs that they argued would negatively impact patient care at the 334-bed facility. The planned layoffs were announced last week, but hospital officials declined to say how many or which positions would be affected. But on Thursday, Desi Murray, spokesman for the California Nurses Assn., said the hospital had informed the union that on Feb. 15 it would be laying off 41 nursing support staff, which include licensed vocational nurses, nurses aides, monitor technicians and custodial staff.

Glendale Adventist Medical Center laid off 21 employees Thursday in response to federal healthcare payment reform and other industry shifts, hospital officials said. The cuts - which primarily affected non-clinical employees, including several clerical positions - account for less than 2% of the hospital's workforce of more than 2,500 people and won't affect direct patient care, hospital spokeswoman Alicia Gonzalez said. “It doesn't affect bedside patient care at all,” she said.

SOUTH GLENDALE — Glendale firefighters got a lesson Friday morning on using new cost-saving defibrillators that will give hospitals more information on heart-attack patients and monitor carbon monoxide levels. The new defibrillators will allow firefighters to provide better service to patients and provide care in Los Angeles and Pasadena, Glendale Fire Capt. Cody Smith said. The two cities already have the monitors. "When we respond to those two cities, it is easier for us to move in if we have similar equipment, and it's seamless when we have to give patient care," he said.

Two hospitals named among the best Two Glendale hospitals were named to a list of America?s 50 best hospitals by HealthGrades, an independent ratings organization that releases the list annually. Glendale Adventist Medical Center and Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center were recognized alongside Los Angeles area facilities Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital and Saint John?s Health Center as elite facilities with effective patient care. The organization announced the distinction in February after reviewing more than 100 million patient records over an eight-year time period.

Since 1972, Verdugo Hills Hospital has been committed to its mission of “providing personalized and cost effective high quality services that meet the community’s needs for healthcare.” Now the 158-bed hospital is celebrating its 35th anniversary. Prior to distinguishing itself as the local hospital of the foothills, it was known as Behrens Memorial Hospital which was established in 1947. In the late ’60s, when a bigger facility was needed, it was decided that the hospital would relocate to its current hilltop location onto land donated by the Greene family.

LA CA—ADA FLINTRIDGE ? A judge ordered La Cañada Flintridge-based nursing home operator Pleasant Care Corp. Wednesday to pay $1 million in fines and improve the quality of care at its facilities, officials said. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Laura Matz approved a settlement agreement between Pleasant Care Corp. and Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer's Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse ? which filed and settled a civil suit on Wednesday. The suit stemmed from allegations of elder abuse and criminally negligent care at Pleasant Care's facilities, including a nursing home in Glendale, said Nathan Barankin, spokesman for the attorney general's office.

LOS ANGELES ? A Long Beach-based law firm filed a class action lawsuit Wednesday against a nursing home operator with facilities in Glendale and Burbank, claiming the company inadequately staffed 31 of its nursing homes, providing patients with substandard care. The claim, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges that Longwood Management Corp. understaffed 31 of its Southern California nursing homes ? including one in Glendale and two in Burbank ? and did not meet California's minimum nurse-to-patient care ratios, attorney Stephen Garcia of the Garcia Law Firm said.

Darleene Barrientos Glendale Community College's nursing program, tucked up on the hillside, is somewhat hidden on campus, but not in the healthcare community. So far, 300 people applied for fall admission to the program, which has only 36 available seats. The shortage of available spots is symptomatic of nursing-education opportunities at other two-year colleges, vocational schools, California State University and University of California campuses, said Sharon Hall, associate dean of Glendale Community College's allied health program.