What: Public Forum on Alta Bates Summit’s accreditation problems

When: Thursday, May 5, 6-8:30 PM

Where: Scottish Rite Temple, 1547 Lakeside Drive, (west side of Lake Merritt), Oakland

On Thursday, May 5, California Assemblymembers Wilma Chan (D-Oakland), Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley), Johan Klehs (D-San Leandro) and Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) will convene a public forum to discuss concerns about the problems Alta Bates Summit Medical Center (ABSMC) is having in being re-accredited. The local hospitals are owned by Sutter Health. In February, the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JHACO), a private regulatory agency, issued a preliminary denial of accreditation to ABSMC. JCAHO discovered deficiencies in medication procedures, pain assessment, medical records, infection control and other patient care areas. About one percent of hospitals that JCAHO inspects receive such a preliminary denial. Loss of accreditation could result in the termination of Medicare and Medicaid funding.

The goal of the Forum is to bring together all stakeholders in a productive dialogue, to understand the reasons behind the Medical Center’s accreditation problems, and to learn about plans to ensure East Bay residents receive top quality care when they enter Alta Bates and Summit Hospitals.

Community leaders will present testimony as to their experiences with ABSMC, and the important role the Medical Center plays in their communities. Nurses and frontline hospital workers will also speak. ABSMC and Sutter administrators have been invited to attend the event to explain why these patient care deficiencies have been occurring and what their plans are to address them.

The hearing is co-sponsored by the advocacy organization Vote Health, Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington and the Berkeley Grey Panthers.

Driving directions: Take 14th St. east to Lakeside Dr. You’ll see the Oakland Library on your right and Lake Merritt ahead. Go north (left) on Lakeside. Building is on your left.