Alameda Hospital's future is uncertain

Island's only hospital will no longer offer elective surgery, end of emergency surgery may be next; Mei pledged early support for Wahab recall; Due to crime, 'Dro official's wife shops in Hayward

CITY/COUNTY NEWS

ALAMEDA

—LIFE SUPPORT—Alameda Hospital, like many stand-alone health care facilities, has struggled with its bottom line for years. To augment its operations, Alamedans pay a generous $300 parcel tax to keep the hospital up-and-running.

—But Alameda Hospital appears in the midst of a dismantling by its operator, Alameda Health System, while labor unions worry the end-game is closure of the hospital.

—Elective surgeries will no longer be offered at Alameda Hospital, effective July 1, said Alameda Health System CEO James Jackson.

—Emergency surgeries will remain at the hospital, but perhaps not for long.

—“We are in talks about whether we can discontinue emergency surgeries, but that’s something that has to be adjudicated with the state,” Jackson said.

—Labor unions, however, believe Alameda Health System (AHS) is slow-walking the demise of Alameda Hospital by moving lucrative services to other facilities in the health care system.

—Doug Jones, a political organizer for SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West, said the proposal to move emergency surgery off island is disconcerting to workers and residents.

—“The decision that is pending is very distressing,” Jones told the Alameda Health System Board of Trustees on Wednesday night. “We are very worried about the future. It does not portend well.”

—Jackson told the Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that there are no plans to close Alameda Hospital.

—“There has been a narrative that AHS is contemplating or even planning to close Alameda Hospital and that’s just false on a number of levels,” he said.

—“AHS is unequivocally committed to keeping Alameda Hospital open to continue providing critical healthcare services to all Alameda County residents. Any statements to the contrary are false.”…

MORE INSIDE:

• COUNTY NEWS: More on the situation at Alameda Hospital

• AHS CEO says staffing reductions will be needed to close $100 million shortfall

• CITY NEWS: Fremont mayor was early supporter of Wahab recall

• San Leandro office says wife won’t shop at local department store due to crime

• BLee named grand marshal of Alameda 4th of July Parade

—411 on the 510—Become an East Bay Insiders subscriber today and get full access to the inside scoop every weekday morning at 6 a.m.

—It’s what the insiders read.