Resolution:

No. 28-99

Determining Whether the Elimination Or Curtailment of Health Services By the University of California (UCSF)/Mount Zion Medical Center, Will or Will Not Have a Detrimental Impact On the Health Service of the Community (December 21, 1999)

WHEREAS, on September 23, 1999, UCSF Stanford Health Care gave notice to the Health Commission of its intention to eliminate the Emergency Department and all acute care medical-surgical beds, including the Intensive Care Unit and the Cardiac Care Unit at UCSF/Mount Zion Medical Center; and,

WHEREAS, additionally, there will be a loss of skilled nursing beds with the closure of the UCSF/Mount Zion Skilled Nursing Facility, thereby decreasing the number of available skilled nursing beds in the City and County of San Francisco; and,

WHEREAS, in accordance with the Health Care Planning Ordinance (Proposition Q), the Health Commission held a public hearing on November 16, 1999 at City Hall, where over 40 speakers testified in opposition to the closure of UCSF/Mount Zion Hospital; and,

WHEREAS, to ensure patient safety, UCSF Stanford Health Care closed the Emergency Department at UCSF/Mount Zion Medical Center at midnight on November 23, 1999 after determining that adequate emergency service staffing could not be guaranteed beyond that time; and,

WHEREAS, effective November 23, 1999, the Adult Urgent Care Service, which will include laboratory facilities, X-rays, and will treat minor wounds and other non-emergent problems, will be available at 2380 Sutter Street (2nd floor) across the street from the hospital; and,

WHEREAS, in accordance with the California Health and Safety Code, Division 2.5, Section 1300(b), the local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency is required to submit an impact evaluation to the State Department of Health Services on the effect upon community access to emergency care; and,

WHEREAS, the Emergency Medical Service Agency assessed the impact of the closure of the UCSF/Mount Zion Emergency Department to have three potential major effects:

Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Health Commission determines that the closure of the Emergency Department at UCSF/Mount Zion and the loss of critical care beds, medical-surgical beds, and skilled nursing beds for San Francisco will have a detrimental impact on the health care service of the community.

I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the San Francisco Health Commission at its meeting of Tuesday, December 21, 1999.

Sandy Ouye Mori, Executive Secretary to the Health Commission