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ACMC Steps in to Keep San Leandro Hospital Open
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released 08/19/2009
Oakland, CA -- Alameda County Medical Center today announced that it signed a lease agreement that will ensure San Leandro Hospital remains open to the public but it will most likely become a physical rehabilitation and urgent care facility instead of its current operation as a primary acute care facility.
Sutter Health recently exercised its option to purchase San Leandro Hospital under a lease option from Eden Township Hospital District. It is the intention of Alameda County Medical Center to begin operations at San Leandro Hospital by early 2010.
"Alameda County Medical Center is pleased that this agreement will allow San Leandro Hospital to remain open and continue to serve residents in the surrounding communities, ensuring local residents have access to quality, affordable health care something that many in the communities we serve desperately need" said Wright Lassiter III, Chief Executive Officer of Alameda County Medical Center.
Expanded physical rehabilitation and restorative services at San Leandro Hospital will provide essential treatment for patients recovering from stroke, major traumas or surgery. These essential services include physical, occupational and speech therapy. The typical stay for this type of treatment is approximately two to four weeks.
Alameda County Medical Center currently provides rehabilitation services at Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro. However, state law will require millions of dollars in seismic upgrades to continue operations at the facility beyond 2013. On the other hand, San Leandro Hospital requires only minimal upgrades to comply with seismic standards, thus making it an excellent and fiscally responsible option for a replacement facility, Lassiter said.
An improved and expanded urgent care service will be used to more efficiently treat patients who have injuries or illness that require attention but are not serious enough to warrant a visit to an emergency room. According to data collected from patient visits approximately two-thirds of all current trips to the emergency department at San Leandro Hospital could be safely treated in an urgent care setting.
Patients in need of emergency services will be transported by Alameda County Emergency Medical Services to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, which is less than five miles away. Other patients will be served by St. Rose Hospital in Hayward and Highland Hospital in Oakland.
"We recognize the community has concerns about what type of services will be provided at San Leandro Hospital," added Lassiter. "Alameda County Medical Center is committed to exploring with community physicians the feasibility of continuing to provide out-patient surgical and diagnostic procedures."
Lassiter said maintaining emergency and acute inpatient services would require a significant subsidy which may not be feasible in the current fiscal climate. He estimated that it is likely to require an annual subsidy of between $6 million and $10 million to pay for emergency and acute services.
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