Hospital to oust patients

Christopher Alessandra can no longer speak for himself, so his father spoke for him Tuesday night, pleading for the city’s help to keep open the sub-acute care wing South Coast Medical Center.

Alessandra’s parents and the families of the 20 other patients have been given 30 days by Adventist Health to find new accommodations for their loved ones who need constant medical supervision and immediate access to equipment. The families begged the City Council for help to stop the closure or at least stall it until terms of the proposed transfer of the hospital to the Mission Regional Medical Center license is reviewed by the state attorney general’s office.

“This is the only sub-acute [facility] in South Orange County or north San Diego County,” Christopher’s father, John Alessandra, said. “Christopher has been in the sub-acute [unit] for three years, since he suffered a brain injury when a car hit him in a store parking lot. He loves living there. I am asking for your help.”

Masoud Rohi, who also sought the city’s intervention, said the unit was home to his son.

“There is no place else for these people to go,” Rohi said.

City officials could offer only sympathy in response to the heartbreaking appeals.

“This is the most painful testimony I have heard since I was elected,” Councilwoman Toni Iseman said.

However, the city has no jurisdiction over the medical center’s operations.

“There is nothing we can do to get them to turn around,” said Councilwoman Jane Egly, who represents the city on a sub-committee that deals with hospital issues.

Families were notified Feb. 9 that they had 30 days to move the patients from the unit, which is for long-term patients who cannot be attended to in a nursing home, but are not in intensive care, according to Yvonne Toppses, whose husband is a patient.

“These are critical care patients, and it is a cruel injustice to cast them out,” said Ted Mosely, whose father has been in the sub-acute wing for about 10 years, visited twice a day by family members.

Adventist spokeswoman Alicia Gonzales reported that the proposed closure complies with the law and was approved by the California Department of Public Health Licensing and Certification Program.

Iseman advised the families to appeal to a higher power.

“Both groups [Adventist and Mission] are faith-based,” Iseman said.

Gonzales said that the wing has been under review for more than a year.

“That analysis has now been completed,” Gonzales e-mailed. “Like other businesses — and certainly the health care industry as a whole — the management of South Coast Medical Center is continually looking for operational efficiencies in the current economic climate.”

Eighty percent of the patients are funded by Medi-Cal, according to Gonzales.

According to Gonzales, it will take 30 to 60 days for all the resident patients to be relocated to Los Angeles or Orange County facilities.

“SCMC has communicated with the impacted patients and their families regarding the transfer, which has already received regulatory approval. Caregivers will meet with each of the families/representatives individually to discuss the transfer plan and make recommendations for the future,” Gonzales said.

Adventist officials acknowledged the commitment of the staff of 48 and said some of them may qualify for positions in other units, for which they will be encouraged to apply, as well as applying for positions elsewhere in the Adventist system. Others will be given placement assistance along with a severance package.

Toppses believes the closure based on financial considerations violates Catholic health directives that will apply when and if the hospital is taken over by Mission Hospital, which is a part of the Sisters of St. Joseph Health System.

However, Mission closed its own transitional care unit several years ago, according to spokeswoman Kelsey Martinez.

“Hospitals all across the country are stepping away from transitional care units in an effort to refocus their resources to better serve their community, while leaving skilled nursing in the hands of specialty facilities,” Martinez said.

Mission Hospital was made aware of South Coast Medical Center’s intent to close its sub-acute, skilled nursing unit, which is expected to be completed prior to Mission’s acquisition.

Toppses said Tuesday that she had called the attorney general’s office to file a complaint, but was told she couldn’t because the application to transfer ownership has not yet been submitted to the state. She opined that Adventist is delaying the application so the sub-acute patient’s families will have no recourse.

“We have an appeal available, but if we are forced out in 30 days, an appeal will be meaningless because it will occur after the patients are out,” Walter Schminke said.

Asked if Adventist had set a date to submit the application, Gonzales replied, “shortly.”

Details of the deal have not been made released, but the attorney general is expected to hold a public hearing locally, Assistant City Manager John Pietig said.