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CLEARLAKE – Marc Shapiro, MD, a longtime Lake County physician and advocate of quality improvement, has been appointed chief medical officer for Redbud Community Hospital.
Having served as medical director of Redbud’s intensive care unit since inception and medical director of the cardiopulmonary department, Dr. Shapiro is now responsible for leading the medical staff in the improvement of patient care and safety.
“In addition to his extensive contributions to Redbud Community Hospital since joining us in 1981, Dr. Shapiro has distinguished himself as a capable and respected leader in the medical community,” said Linda Gibson, the hospital’s vice president of operations.
Since 1981, Dr. Shapiro has lived and practiced medicine in Lake County. He is board-certified by the by American Board of Internal Medicine.
He received his medical degree from the University of Illinois and completed his internal medicine residency at Martin Luther King General Hospital in the Los Angeles area.
For more information, visit www.redbudcommunityhospital.org.
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The Assembly approved SB 992 week before last, so Thursday’s Senate vote means the bill next heads to the desk of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his consideration.
In presenting the bill for Thursday’s vote, Wiggins told her Senate colleagues that “existing law grants the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP) the authority to license and regulate “alcohol or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities.
“SB 992 builds on the existing licensing law to create a second category of licensed facilities known as “Adult Recovery Maintenance Facilities,” Wiggins said. “Currently, these 'second tier' facilities – sometimes called 'sober living homes' – are not subject to any state requirements whatsoever. SB 992 imposes regulatory structure through the licensing process.”
Existing law requires the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (DADP) to develop and implement a statewide plan to alleviate problems related to inappropriate alcohol use, and to license alcoholism and drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities that provide a broad range of services in a supportive environment for adults who are addicted to alcohol or drugs.
Existing law also defines alcoholism or drug abuse recovery treatment facilities as any premise, place, or building that provides 24-hour residential non-medical services to adults who are recovering from problems related to alcohol, drug, or alcohol and drug misuse or abuse, and who need alcohol, drug, or alcohol and drug recovery treatment or detoxification services. The law prohibits a licensee of a treatment facility from operating beyond the conditions and limitations specified on the license.
The Wiggins bill:
Requires DADP, on or before July 1, 2010, and in consultation with specified stakeholders, to develop and adopt emergency regulations governing the licensing and operation of ARMFs, including regulations governing services related to special needs as these needs are identified by DADP;
Requires DADP to commence licensing of ARMFs, by Jan. 1, 2011;
Defines ARMFs as any facility, place, or building that provides alcohol- or drug-free housing whose rules, peer-led groups, staff activities, or other structured operations are directed primarily toward maintenance of sobriety for adults in early recovery from substance abuse or adults who recently have completed alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment services;
States that ARMFs are designed to promote independent living in a supervised setting, but do not provide professional recovery and treatment services onsite;
Prohibits (beginning Jan. 1, 2011) a state or local social services, law enforcement, or corrections agency, court, probation officer, or parole officer from referring any person to an alcohol or drug abuse recovery or treatment facility, or an ARMF, that is not licensed;
Prohibits any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or local government entity from operating, establishing, managing, conducting or maintaining ARMFs without a license.
According to the bill’s sponsor, the California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources, the purpose of SB 992 is to help ensure a safe environment for recovering addicts in their transition to sober living, and for the surrounding community. DADP states that there are roughly 500 facilities which would be subject to SB 992.
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When complete, the approximately 8,000 square foot, single-story facility will house physician offices and patient exam rooms, outpatient physical therapy services and other programs, which have yet to be determined.
The ground-breaking ceremony will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the future site of the health center, 21198 Calistoga St. in Middletown.
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The agenda included background information on physical restraint use in California long-term care facilities, definitions, types and risks of physical restraints, evidence of how restraints impact falls, the use of alarms, and strategies to minimize restraint usage. Attendees joined in hand-on activities that included the installation of common restraint devices on several participants.
At the end of the training, participants were able to identify conventional and unconventional physical restraints, define the risks associated with restraints, and understand, appreciate and implement a person-centered care approach to reduce and prevent restraint use at their facilities.
California nursing home residents are twice as likely to be restrained as residents in nursing homes nationally (10% versus 5%). Studies have proven that physical restraint reduction does not lead to increased falls or injury. To the contrary, using restraints causes lower extremity weakness and deconditioning and may actually lead to falls.
Restraint reduction training strategies have resulted in nursing facilities across California reducing their use of restraints noticeably since 2004. Those homes working with Lumetra during an 18 month-long patient-centered care collaborative have shown considerable reductions in the use of physical restraints.
Lumetra is a nonprofit independent consulting organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety, efficiency and integrity of health care. Lumetra provides an array of professional services that include medical review, health information technology, quality evaluation and improvement, marketing and communications, and data analysis to private and public entities. For more information, please visit www.lumetra.com.
The Ombudsman program, a direct service of the Area Agency for Aging of Lake and Mendocino Counties, visits long-term care facilities and investigates elder abuse. Staff and volunteer program volunteers advocate for the care, rights and dignity of each resident in problems with insurance, entitlements, legal matters and other areas. The program also provides information to families, friends and prospective long-term care residents. Last year, Lake and Mendocino counties’ certified Ombudsmen investigated more than 770 complaints.
Ombudsman representatives complete 36 hours of training, 10 hour field internship and 12 hours a year of continuing education. They are certified by the California Department of Aging and accept assignment to skilled nursing and assisted living facilities throughout Lake and Mendocino counties.
For more information, or to become a volunteer, contact the Ombudsman Program of Lake and Mendocino Counties, 467-5835.
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