Tag: health care

Hospital Closure Bill

Health Commissioner Tom Farley said this bill would force hospital owners to make their intention to close more explicit.

“While this enforcement mechanism has its limits, the safeguard will definitely make it more difficult for irresponsible owners to just walk away from a hospital,” Farley said.

He echoed Gym’s assertion that local authorities are better suited to oversee the hospitals in their region than state regulators are, especially when it comes to a transfer of patients and their medical records to other local health care providers.

https://whyy.org/articles/helen-gym-has-a-plan-to-prevent-another-hanhemann/

By Nina Feldman

Hahnemann Closure Effects

As to whether Hahnemann’s closure means patients are going without care, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley issued this statement Thursday:

“While the Philadelphia Department of Health does not have a systematic method for monitoring the receipt of medical care by former Hahnemann patients, informal reports suggest that these patients are receiving care at other area hospitals and clinics without major disruptions in care. Many of the former Hahnemann and Drexel medical staff are now working for these other hospitals and, in some cases, seeing the same patients in the new facilities.”

https://www.inquirer.com/business/health/hahnemann-university-hospital-closing-temple-jefferson-einstein-impact-20190927.html

By Harold Brubaker

Hahnemann Closure Effect on Other Hospitals

Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley and city leaders are meeting regularly with the hospitals affected by Hahnemann’s closure, said James Garrow, a spokesperson for the city Health Department.

“While the city doesn’t have regulatory oversight of any hospital, nor can we compel any hospital to change their practices, we are working with each of the other hospitals together to make sure that every patient who is affected by the Hahnemann closure has a place to get care in the most frictionless way. As in everything, the devil is in the details, but we’re happy that the hospital community in Philadelphia has come together and is working to make sure that everyone is taken care of,” Garrow said in an email.

By Sarah Gantz

Community Health Needs Assessment Report

Release

Eighteen regional hospitals in Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, supported by the Health Care Improvement Foundation, Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations, and the Philadelphia, Chester, and Montgomery County health departments, have published a comprehensive report detailing community health issues that affect their patient populations.

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/eighteen-hospitals-in-philadelphia-area-complete-first-ever-regional-community-health-needs-assessment?e=[UNIQID]

Inquirer

“With the criteria that the institutions used to do the ratings, you think about what issues are having a big magnitude in terms of impacting a larger number of community members. And then you think about what’s actually on people’s minds, what they are feeling the burden of,” said Raynard Washington, the chief epidemiologist for Philadelphia’s health department.

The opioid crisis, he said, was at the top of both lists.

“It’s virtually impossible not to see it as a major health issue,” he said.

https://www.inquirer.com/health/opioid-crisis-pennsylvania-hospitals-health-assessment-20190718.html

By Aubrey Whelan

KYW

The report focuses on communities and their needs, which meant going into neighborhoods and interviewing individuals served by the hospitals. Dr. Raynard Washington with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health says they learned it’s not easy for people to find the resources they need.

“A common theme is additional supports to help people navigate the very complex healthcare and health resource systems that we have,” Washington said.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/improve-care-philly-area-hospitals-examine-challenges-neighborhoods

By Hadas Kuznits

Hahnemann Obstetrics Closure

As for ending obstetric services, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health said in a statement: “The city is aware of the announcement and continues to work with obstetrics departments across the city to ensure that every pregnant mother and newborn infant gets the best care throughout pregnancy, delivery, and afterwards.”

https://www.inquirer.com/health/hahnemann-closure-maternity-labor-delivery-maternal-mortality-20190709.html

By Sarah Gantz and Marie McCullough

Trieu Dental Clinics Closing

Release

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health, working in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of State, has announced the closure of three Philadelphia dental practices for improper reprocessing and sterilization of dental equipment and lapses in injection safety practices. These practices put the safety of patients at risk and forced the closure of all three Trieu Family Dental Clinics, located at 437 West Chew Avenue, 5427 North 5th Street, and 6536 Woodland Avenue. Patients of these clinics are advised to contact their regular healthcare providers to be tested for hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and HIV. The Health Department believes the risk of infection to be low, and is not aware of any infections as a result of these unsafe practices.

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/press-releasehealth-department-announces-closure-of-philadelphia-dental-practices?e=[UNIQID]

CBS News

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has shut down three local dentist practices and is warning patients to get tested for HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B, CBS Philadelphia reports. The Department of Health says all three Trieu Family Dental Clinics have been closed for improper sterilization of dental equipment and lapses in injection safety practices.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/philadelphia-health-department-warning-patients-possible-hiv-hepatitis-risk-from-trieu-family-dental-clinics/

By Staff

Philadelphia Tribune

Philadelphia health officials have closed three dental offices in the city for “unsafe infection control practices” and told patients they should be tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health, working with the Pennsylvania Department of State, ordered the closure of all three Trieu Family Dental Clinics, located at 437 West Chew Ave., 5427 N. Fifth St. and 6536 Woodland Ave.

https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/health-department-announces-closure-of-philadelphia-dental-practices/article_b8a0ceae-ce3a-5ab0-ade7-d0a66e86224a.html

By Staff

6ABC

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has announced the closure of three Philadelphia dental offices for improper reprocessing and sterilization of dental equipment, and lapses in injection safety practices.

https://6abc.com/health/3-philadelphia-dental-practices-shut-down-patients-urged-to-get-tested/5217051/

By Staff

USA Today

“We do not know how long these unsatisfactory practices were taking place, so we are encouraging anyone who had a visit at one of the three Trieu dental practices in Philadelphia to speak with their regular healthcare provider as soon as possible,” read a statement from the health department emailed to USA TODAY.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/03/26/dental-clinics-closed-hiv-disease-risk-philadelphia-officials/3275575002/

By Brett Molina

NBC10

“The sterilization and handling of used instruments on patients was not being cleaned appropriately or in a timely fashion, Dr. Steven Alles, the Director of Disease Control with the Philadelphia Health Department, told NBC10.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Philadelphia-Dental-Office-Closure-Possible-Exposure-HIV-Hepatitis-Diseases-Unsanitary-507646041.html

By Denise Nakano and David Chang

Metro

The Department of Health is urging patients of the three Trieu Dental Clinic branches in Philadelphia to get tested for HIV, and hepatitis B and C following an investigation that revealed improper sterilization and injection safety practices.

https://www.metro.us/news/local-news/philadelphia/philly-dept-health-warns-potential-hiv-hepatitis-exposure-trieu-dental-clinics

By Nate Homan

Philly Voice

“The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has shuttered three Philadelphia dental offices for improper reprocessing and sterilization of dental equipment, and lapses in injection safety practices.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/trieu-family-dental-clinics-closure-unsanitary-hiv-hepatitis/

By Bailey King

KYW

Philadelphia health officials are urging patients at dentist practices in the city to get tested for HIV and other diseases.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is warning patients of Trieu Family Dental Clinics to get tested for HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B.

https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/three-philadelphia-dental-practices-shut-down-patients-advised-get-tested-hiv

By Antoinette Lee

Inquirer

The Health Department said in a statement Monday that it believes “the risk of infection to be low, and is not aware of any infections as a result of these unsafe practice.”

https://www.philly.com/news/trieu-dental-health-infections-philadelphia-20190326.html

By Robert Moran

Daily Mail

As many as 1,500 patients may have been exposed to diseases such as hepatitis and HIV at three dental clinics in Philadelphia, health officials say.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health shut down all three locations of Trieu Family Dental on West Chew Avenue, North 5th Street and Woodland Avenue.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6852143/Three-Philadelphia-dental-offices-closed-exposing-1-500-patients-HIV-hepatitis.html

By Mary Kekatos

Philadelphia Sun

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health, working in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of State, has announced the closure of three Philadelphia dental practices for improper reprocessing and sterilization of dental equipment and lapses in injection safety practices.

https://www.philasun.com/stateside/health-department-announces-closure-of-philadelphia-dental-practices/

By Staff

AP

The clinics were closed last December after city investigators found evidence of improper safety practices. The closures were announced Monday in a statement that noted the clinics can be reopened after health and licensing authorities are satisfied they are safe.

https://www.apnews.com/a9345d710def4eaa8ff8a0e17ee072ad

By Staff

Philadelphia Getting Health Care Right

“In 1751, Benjamin Franklin co-founded America’s first public hospital in Philadelphia. Today, the City of Brotherly Love stays true to that history, scoring high for hospital quality and availability of highly rated specialists. Meanwhile, residents can take independent steps toward better population health by improving lifestyle habits like regular exercise and maintaining a normal weight.”

The Healthgrades rankings came out about the same time the Philadelphia Department of Public Health issued its own report that found in some city neighborhoods residents have limited access to basic primary care. The health department study found the shortage was most severe in the Far Northeast and southwest sections of the city, with one primary-care provider for every 3,500 residents.

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2018/11/01/philadelphia-rankedamong-top-cities-getting-health.html

By John George