Flu absences prompted Los Angeles hospital to close emergency room

A Los Angeles hospital was forced to close its emergency room earlier this month because of understaffing after several nurses became sick with the flu, authorities said.

Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center, at 2231 S. Western Ave., just south of the Santa Monica Freeway, voluntarily closed its four-bed emergency room Sept. 18 after a surprise visit by state health inspectors, who found that two of three emergency room nurses were out sick, according to hospital CEO John Fenton.

The 213-bed hospital has a staff of 700, but has few nurses trained to work in the emergency room, which was added two years ago, Fenton said. The hospital is owned by Tustin-based Pacific Health Corp.

After the closure, hospital officials improved backup staffing plans and now expect to meet with state inspectors to reopen the emergency room Monday, Fenton said. In the interim, county officials have been notified to divert ambulances to other local hospitals, said Ralph Montano, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Health.


-- Molly Hennessy-Fiske

Comments

[JW]

Emergency rooms don't have beds. They have treatment bays. Hospital beds are licensed for overnight stays. Overnight boarding in an emergency room is spending the night in a treatment bay. It is less than ideal to be boarded in an emergency room as it is not set up for dietary and some therapy needs of the patient. It is an important distinction.

[thealaskan]

So, was the emergency room closed b/c there were no nurses (doubtful?) Or, no plan? A 4 bed emergency room hardly sounds like a trauma center. R.N.'s are trained professionals. The real story here seems to be state regulators splitting hairs. Too bad they rarely checked up on King-Drew (say is that guy with the mop an admitting nurse?)

[sylvia woodburne]

When does 'two' mean 'several'? The work pattern at that hospital must be really weird if they only have three nurses for a round-the-clock hospital department.

[Maggie]

My child came home from school the other day saying that they learned to cough and sneeze into their elbow with Germy Wormie, and I was totally taken aback. I always covered with my hands. But I went to the website and now I get it, hands touch, elbows don't!! Kids can touch 300 surfaces in 1/2 hour and they hate to wash their hands. This is a simple thing that can make a huge difference.

[Nicole]

Sounds like someone is not telling the whole story! Employees got a memo dated 9/21/09, stating, as a result of calls made by employees regarding the 10% salary reduction, and requests by admin to "hold on" to thier pay checks a few days (few? Try 6 or7 days, going on for about 6 months),as a result of this the Dept of health services did a surprise survey of LAMMC Saturday morning. The memo goes on & on, but to sum it up, My John Fenton CEO, is disciplining us employees by "Voluntarily suspending admissions, limiting our census for the next several days, until the financial situation is resolved."(his words) ? I ask, why would the DHS be interested in a hospitals "financial situation"? It is my opinion that we (the employees) are being punished for excercising our rights, our right to call the Labor Board & report possible laws being violated by our employer. "holding on"to our pay checks for 6 or7 days, for months now....hurts,hurts us & our familys. I hope you are eating steak my Fenton.