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- Written by: Lake County News reports
A new report shows a reduced mortality rate for coronary artery bypass graft surgeries performed around the state.
California's Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) on Monday released the “California Report on Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery, 2009 Hospital Data,” showing that hospital operative mortality declined 34 percent since 2003, the first year of mandated public reporting for the 119 state-licensed hospitals that performed isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery during 2009.
“The findings in this report, especially the continued decline in the mortality rate, reinforce the importance of making our healthcare system more transparent and improving consumer access to information on quality and performance,” said acting OSHPD Director Stephanie Clendenin.
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery takes arteries or veins from elsewhere in a patient’s body and grafts them onto the coronary artery to help relieve angina and improve blood supply.
The surgery can become necessary when arteries are narrowed due to atherosclerosis. A common condition, atherosclerosis results from a buildup on artery walls of substances like fat and cholesterol which create “plaques,” hardened structures that can block arteries, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
The hospitals listed in the report do not include Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport or St. Helena Hospital Clearlake. However, several other regional hospitals serving Lake County residents are included, including North Bay and Bay Area facilities.
Performance ratings for hospitals are based on three risk-adjusted outcomes: operative mortality, operative stroke and, for the first time, hospital readmission.
Additionally, utilization of the internal mammary artery during CABG surgery is used as a measurement of surgical quality.
Hospital results for risk-adjusted mortality, risk-adjusted hospital readmission and internal mammary artery utilization are based only on 2009 data, while hospital results for risk-adjusted post-operative stroke are based on combined 2008 and 2009 data.
Regarding mortality rates, key findings in the report show there were 252 operative deaths among 13,260 isolated non-salvage CABG surgeries, and the operative mortality rate for isolated CABG surgery in California was 1.90 percent, down from 2.24 percent in 2008.
In addition, the report found significant variation – from 0 percent to 13.0 percent – in hospital operative mortality rates after adjusting for patients’ pre-operative health. Despite such variation, 116 of 119 hospitals (97%) performed at a rate that did not differ significantly from the statewide average.
The report showed that only one hospital, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, performed statistically significantly “better” than the state average in terms of risk-adjusted operative mortality, while Scripps Mercy Hospital and West Hills Regional Medical Center performed “worse” than the state average.
When it came to post-operative strokes, of the 27,217 patients who underwent isolated CABG surgery, 384 (1.41%) experienced a post-operative stroke, similar to the national rate of 1.4 percent reported by the National Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
There was wide variation in post-operative stroke rates among hospitals after adjusting for patients’ pre-operative health.
Hospital risk-adjusted stroke rates ranged from 0 percent to 8.87 percent, and 114 of 121 hospitals (94%) performed at a rate that did not differ significantly from the statewide average.
For the third report in a row, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center performed statistically “better” than the state average in terms of risk adjusted post-operative stroke rates. Also receiving high marks were St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton and St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino.
There also were four hospitals that performed “worse” than the state average: Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Providence Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana and Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla.
As for hospital readmissions, of the 11,823 patients who underwent isolated CABG surgery and were discharged alive, 1,565 (13.2%) experienced a hospital readmission within 30 days of the surgery, the report found.
There was wide variation in the readmission rates among hospitals performing CABG surgery after adjusting for patients’ pre-operative conditions.
Hospital risk-adjusted re-admission rates ranged from 0 percent to 29.77 percent, and 117 of 119 hospitals (98%) performed at a rate that did not differ significantly from the statewide average.
One hospital, Queen of the Valley, performed “better” than the state average on hospital readmission, and one hospital, San Joaquin Community Hospital, performed “worse” than the state average.
The study showed that, overall, UC Davis Medical Center, Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, St. Helena Hospital, Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa, UCSF Medical Center and Queen of the Valley all performed well in all three categories.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – Three Oakland men are being investigated for their alleged involvement in an early morning home invasion robbery and assault in Fort Bragg over the weekend.
William Taylor, 24; Jelani Kelly, 27, and Robert Miller, 41, were taken into custody within hours of the incident, according to Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
Smallcomb said at approximately 7:10 a.m. on Sunday, April 22, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Communications Center received a 911 telephone call from a Fort Bragg resident advising that her neighbor needed assistance as he had been hurt during a possible robbery.
Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies responded to the location on Boice Lane and located the victim, 29-year-old Daniel Alonso.
Alonso told deputies that he was asleep inside his residence early that morning when two suspects busted into his residence via the front door, Smallcomb said. The two suspects then allegedly started beating on Alonso with a crowbar and stabbed him with a knife.
Smallcomb said Alonso believed the suspects were trying to remove his marijuana from the residence. He had approximately 51 small plants inside his home.
The two suspects – later identified as Kelly and Taylor, who Alonso said he had met previously – then fled the residence and left the location driving a red SUV, Smallcomb said.
Medical personnel transported Alonso to an out-of-county hospital for treatment of stab wounds and blunt force injuries to his upper torso, according to Smallcomb.
Smallcomb said deputies conducted further follow up investigation and confirmed the identities of the suspects. A be on the look out was placed for the suspect vehicle and communicated to southern law enforcement entities.
At approximately 9:30 a.m. that same day Cloverdale Police officers conducted a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle, a red Lincoln Navigator, at Highway 101 near the Highway 128 intersection, Smallcomb said. Inside the vehicle were both suspects along with a Robert Miller.
Both Taylor and Kelly were booked into the Mendocino County Jail for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, Smallcomb said. Kelly also had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest.
Smallcomb said Taylor's bail was set at $250,000 and Kelly's at $265,000. Miller was arrested for a violation of parole, and is being held without bail.
Mendocino County Sheriff's detectives are continuing to conduct further investigation into the incident. It is unknown what items, if any, the suspects removed from the residence, Smallcomb said.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A crash Monday morning involving two local men resulted in moderate injuries for one and minor injuries for the other, the California Highway Patrol reported.
Asheton Gene Cufaude, 23, and Allan Foster Stirnaman Jr., 52, both of Lucerne, were injured in the crash, which occurred at 8:20 a.m., according to the CHP report.
Cufaude was driving his 1970 Chevrolet truck westbound on Highway 20 west of Scotts Valley Road and Stirnaman was driving eastbound in a company vehicle, a 2009 Chevrolet pickup, the CHP said.
For reasons still under investigation, Cufaude allowed his vehicle to cross over the solid double yellow lines, with the left side of his truck hitting the left side of Stirnaman’s vehicle, the CHP said.
The CHP report said both vehicles ended up going off the south roadway edge.
Stirnaman’s truck contained a 100-gallon auxiliary fuel tank which fell out of the truck bed and onto the dirt embankment. The CHP said the tank was uprighted with the minimal leakage contained.
Northshore Fire Deputy Chief Pat Brown had told Lake County News earlier in the day that firefighters were able to quickly contain the tank, which landed on the shore of Blue Lakes, and no gas went into the water.
The CHP said Cufaude sustained moderate injuries to his left leg and was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
Stirnaman sustained minor injuries to his back and neck and also was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for care, the CHP said.
Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash, and the CHP said both drivers were wearing their seat belts.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sheriff's officials are attempting to locate a Lake County Jail inmate who walked away from the facility on Monday morning.
Roger Daniel Vigil, 49, of Clearlake, was working outside the facility on the grounds when he walked away at approximately 9 a.m., according to Sgt. John Gregore of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff’s office personnel – including deputies, detectives and a K9 team – continued to search for Vigil early Monday afternoon, according to Gregore.
Vigil, who last September was sought as Clearlake's “most wanted,” was being held on bench warrants and a controlled substance charge, and the District Attorney's Office also had remanded him to custody, according to jail records.
Gregore said Vigil was an inmate worker assigned to minimum custody.
Vigil is described as a Hispanic male adult, 5 feet 7 inches tall and 155 pounds, with a shaved head and brown eyes, according to Gregore.
Gregore said Vigil has a tattoo of Mickey Mouse on his left arm and a tattoo of Jesus on his right arm. He also has a tattoo of a peacock on his back and another tattoo of a peacock on his right arm.
Vigil was last seen wearing a blue Lake County Jail shirt and blue jeans, Gregore said.
Anyone who may have information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at 707-263-2690.