A Summary of San Francisco Laguna Honda Hospital and its 600 residents

Health & Homeostasis
Written By Dr. Brenda Rivera - Billings Dr.P.H., MPH, M.Sc.

If there’s one thing, we all know, it’s that taking care of our poor and indigent is the right thing to do. Laguna Honda Hospital, which operates as a skilled nursing facility, is being threatened to be shut down by federal officials due to the lack of inspections, which resulted in two nonfatal drug overdoses at the hospital.  

In 1866, Laguna Honda Hospital opened its doors to assist with the city's overwhelming need for more skilled nursing facilities. Currently, Laguna Honda has over 600 residents who must be moved out for the site to be recertified to operate. However, there are concerns that the patients who live there are too vulnerable and weak to be moved. Patient transfers were halted when four of the 57 people who moved to other facilities died shortly after. As a result, the extensions, transfers, and discharges will remain paused, although a deadline of September 13 was given.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) stated that she is “relieved” that the federal, state, and city governments are working together.

As a community, we must ensure that regardless of socioeconomic status, people living in nursing homes have access to high-quality services and support. Laguna Honda continues to provide high-quality critical care services for over 600 residents, and with the assistance of an appointed onsite facilitator, as of July 26, 2022, the site will remain open.

 

References

Ferrannini, J. (2022, August 16). Laguna Honda hospital to remain open until November. KRON4. https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/laguna-honda-hospital-to-remain-open-until-november/

Madrigal, A. (n.d.). Laguna Honda hospital has 60 days to move over 600 patients before it shuts down. It’s only placed 48 so far. KQED. https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101889843/laguna-honda-hospital-has-60-days-to-move-over-600-patients-before-it-shuts-down-its-only-placed-58-so-far

Dr. Brenda Rivera - Billings Dr.P.H., MPH, M.Sc.
Brenda Billings, principal consultant and CEO of UrbanSculpt, is a Health Educator focusing on issues related to nutrition counseling, body aesthetics, positive sexuality, and women’s self-empowerment issues. The organization's aim is to provide life-in-balance training, products, and services with a focus on solution based results to the many challenges facing the modern urban woman. Prior to UrbanSculpt, Brenda was a Founder, Chief Marketing Officer and content editor for DZineMedia, LLC., an entertainment and original content management company located in Silicon Valley. As principal she also oversaw day to day management, marketing, and content procurement efforts for Erotique!, a literary webzine and pioneering female-centric, online community focusing on cutting edge photography, the arts, poetry, original fiction and pop culture. In addition to her professional experience, Brenda was a founding board member of HCAA, a non-profit organization founded in cooperation with the City of San Jose. Its aims included: improving legal rights education, reducing inner-city blight, increasing volunteerism, and the encouragement of urban renewal. Brenda's educational background includes having graduated cum laude with a Master of Science in Health Science from TUI. She graduated summa cum laude from Touro College with a Bachelor’s of Science in Health Science Education specializing in Environmental Heath. She also holds a degree in Humanities / Art History from City College of San Francisco as well as honors certificates in both Nutrition Counseling and Multimedia & Digital Arts form San Jose City College
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