More than 600 Laguna Honda Hospital patients got another reprieve from being removed from the facility as the City and federal government agencies try to iron out a solution to the problems that have plagued the facility.
When 45-year-old Felipe Martinez suffered a massive stroke that left him unable to stand, walk, swallow or handle any of the activities of daily living, the one thing he was certain of was that Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center wasn’t for him. Now in his early 60s and after 17 years of intensive physical therapy as a resident patient there, he’s regained some of those skills and his feelings about the hospital have changed. “I don’t know what I will do if they close Laguna Honda down.”
Laguna Honda Hospital got a break when San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu’s fight with federal and California State authorities halted the eviction of more than 600 patients on Medicare or Medicaid until next February.
After losing its certification to receive Medicare and Medicaid payments, thus requiring the transfer of more than 600 patients, Laguna Honda Hospital now faces more challenges, including the potential loss of 120 beds and dealing with a recent COVID-19 outbreak.
After losing its certification to receive Medicare and Medicaid payments, thus requiring the transfer of more than 600 patients, Laguna Honda Hospital now faces more challenges, including the potential loss of 120 beds and dealing with a recent COVID-19 outbreak.
There’s a good reason. It has nothing to do with the stated rationale for closing. There is nothing wrong with the hospital facilities, which were rebuilt after the overwhelming passage of a bond issue. There’s no demand for its closing, rather the reverse.
I am shocked that there has not been more outrage at what has befallen Laguna Honda Hospital and the 681 patients that call Laguna Honda Hospital home.
Federal and state regulators have paused all patient transfers and discharges from Laguna Honda Hospital after nine patients died following their removal from the facility.
The transfer and discharge of residents has been challenging as many have complex healthcare needs. Yesterday, regulators agreed to the City’s urgent request to pause all transfers at Laguna Honda Hospital. Accordingly, as of today, Laguna Honda will pause the discharge and transfer of all residents. This impacts approximately 600 residents.
Although technically it will remain operational, San Francisco’s Laguna Honda Hospital faces the daunting task of relocating nearly 700 low-income patients to other hospitals by Sept. 15 after a federal oversight agency decertified it this past April.
I, my brother and a friend of my wife are not allowed to visit or call my wife at Laguna Honda Hospital.
Two lawsuits involving separate individuals were filed against Laguna Honda Hospital in January, as fallout from last year’s revelations of an alleged patient abuse scandal continues to plague the health care facility.
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 