We do not know what law enforcement was investigating when they obtained this information. The information may have originated from Sutter Health’s Alta Bates Summit, Sutter Delta or Eden medical centers, and may have included a patient’s name, Social Security number, date of birth, gender, address, zip code, home phone number, marital status, name of employer and work phone number.

While it is presently unclear where the information originated, we have notified the patients whose information was potentially involved and are offering them free credit monitoring services. We have also alerted the appropriate government agencies.

We are concerned about this matter and take protecting our patients’ privacy very seriously. At this time we do not know how the information was obtained. We continue to cooperate with law enforcement to investigate this incident.

If you are a patient and think you have been affected, please call 1-888-414-8020, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.  When prompted, enter the following ten digit reference number: 2789053113.

The study found that more than half of Bay Area hospitals had worse-than-average death rates for at least one medical procedure or patient condition in 2010 or 2011.

Researchers examined mortality rates for 12 conditions and procedures at 331 California health care institutions, after taking into account risk factors such as age. From this examination, they identified which hospitals had death rates significantly better or worse than state averages.

According to the study, Alta Bates Summit, Eden and Sutter Delta medical centers had rates significantly better than the state average in the following areas for 2010 or 2011:

Alta Bates: Acute stroke and Intestinal Bleeding

Eden: Brain Surgery and Acute Stroke

Sutter Delta: Heart Failure

Read the full article “Death Rates at Bay Area Hospitals Vary Widely, New Report Reveals,” in the Mercury News.

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The donation also comes with a $22 million cash subsidy from Sutter Health to help transition the hospital.

$22 million cash subsidy to help sustain the hospital

“Sutter Health’s donation ensures that San Leandro Hospital remains an asset in the community,” said David Bradley, president of Sutter Health East Bay Region. “It also provides Alameda Health System and local health officials the flexibility to determine how to most effectively deliver health care services on this campus. We appreciate the leadership efforts of Supervisor Wilma Chan to bring all the parties together and help create a solution in the best interest of this community.”

Added Hospital President and CEO George Bischalaney, “The past few years of uncertainty have been challenging for all of us. We appreciate the patience of our employees and others in the community, as we worked hard behind the scenes seeking the best outcome for all parties.”

The transaction deadline is July 2013, and all parties hope to complete all necessary regulatory approvals by October 2013. The donation comes with a $22 million cash subsidy to help sustain the hospital, along with the real estate, supplies and equipment. Of this $22 million, Sutter could utilize up to $6 million to subsidize operations through the October transfer.

Historic three-way deal benefits the community

Sutter Health officials worked closely on the agreement with Wright Lassiter III, CEO of Alameda Health Systems; Alex Briscoe, director of the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency; and Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan.

At Tuesday’s press conference in front of the hospital, both Lassiter and Chan applauded Sutter Health’s donation of San Leandro Hospital. Lassiter paid tribute to Sutter Health leadership as “a significant asset in my quest to negotiate an agreement for the county.”

Previously, Chan called the agreement “a win-win for all parties” and commended Sutter Health “for their generous donation and collaboration at the negotiating table.”

Tuesday’s announcement concludes a five-year journey to reposition the struggling hospital as an asset in the community. The 93-bed hospital will require additional investments to remain viable. The hospital has been operating at a deficit for the past several years.

This program will include Alta Bates Summit, Eden and Sutter Delta medical centers; Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation (SEBMF); and Sutter Care at Home.

What AIM means to patients

Sutter Health’s AIM pilot reduced hospitalizations and improved care transitions, contributing to an improved quality of life for patients enrolled in AIM. The success of this pilot was crucial to Sutter Health receiving a Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) grant. Since 2010:

• AIM has reported a 75 percent reduction in ICU days, an average decrease of one or more days for hospital stays, and a more than 50 percent reduction in hospitalizations at 90 days post-enrollment.
• Patients and families have reported high satisfaction (4.7 out of 5) with the program, which strives to meet patients’ changing short-term and long-term care goals.
• The program reduced costs for payers by $5,000 per patient at 90 days post-enrollment.

What AIM means to physicians and care teams

Trained teams provide support to your most seriously ill patients in the safety and comfort of their own homes. AIM improves care coordination and communication between primary care physicians and specialists, and among inpatient, ambulatory and home-based services.

We hope you will appreciate the benefits this innovative program will provide your patients, and work with us to continue our mission of providing patients with the right care, at the right time, and in the right place.

After a successful pilot in our Sutter Health network, the AIM program was awarded a three-year, $13 million Health Care Innovation Award from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to support Sutter Health’s expansion of this program to patients facing advancing chronic illness throughout our entire Northern California network of care.

We expect to launch AIM throughout our network by the end of 2013. Expanding AIM system-wide perfectly complements our mission and values, and will provide additional services to coordinate care across the network for patients with advancing chronic illness.

If you have any questions, contact the AIM Intake and Information Line at 877-775-7728 or visit http://www.sutterhealth.org/quality/focus/advanced-illness-management.html.

The Tree of Life wall sculpture honors organ donation heroes. The 150-pound sculpture by artist Mendy Greenbaum is cast in bronze and installed in the Intensive Care Unit at Eden Medical Center.

Eden Medical Center dedicated the “Tree of Life” on Saturday, Feb. 2 and honored 23 heroes who gave the ultimate gift of life. The 150-pound sculpture stands 7 ft. by 7 ft., has 375 leaves and hangs on the wall of the waiting area of the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. Each leaf will be engraved with the name of a patient who donated their organs to save another’s life. The first 23 leaves have been engraved with the names of patients who donated organs or tissue in 2011 and 2012. Their families were invited to a ceremony to honor this gift.

Allie Weese of Castro Valley is a transplant recipient and spoke at the event about what organ donation means to her. Allie was born a healthy baby 25 years ago at Eden. At age 15 she became ill and was diagnosed with heart failure. She was given a pacemaker, but was told that she would eventually need a heart transplant. She attended Castro Valley High School, but her health and many doctor’s appointments made it difficult for her to go to school, so she had to be homeschooled. While in college, Allie’s health deteriorated and her need for a heart became immediate. She was admitted to Stanford Hospital where she waited for 19 days for a heart. “While I was waiting I just kept praying for my donor family. I knew that if I got a heart, that meant that someone else had died,” said Weese.

Weese received her heart. She was just 21-years-old. “When I woke up from the surgery, I felt different, so much better. I was so sick for so long, but now, my heart beats like a normal person.”

Eden plans to make this an annual event to honor those who give. “This event commemorates the incredible intersection of a heartbreaking crisis and lives that are saved and restored,” says Rose Corcoran, R.N., vice-president of patient care services, of Eden Medical Center. “Our ‘Tree of Life’ was made possible through generous donations, and will pay homage to the selfless generosity of organ donors and their families.”

In addition to the personalized leaves, a plaque next to the “Tree of Life” reads:

“Eden Medical Center Foundation dedicates this Tree of Life to honor organ and tissue donors. Their selfless gifts created miracles for others and embodied the spirit of generosity. In their final hour, each person gave a lifetime to someone else.”

More than 10,000 people in Northern California are currently waiting for organs, nearly 30 of those people are inCastroValleyalone. An average of 18 people die every day while waiting for a transplant, simply because the organ they needed did not become available in time. To find out more about organ donation or to register as an organ donor, please visit the California Transplant Donor Network at ctdn.org.

“Seeing a smile on someone’s face when they succeed—and knowing you helped make a difference in their life—is my reward. Volunteering gives me this satisfaction every day.

“That’s why my family and I have volunteered for more than five years at the Food Pantry through the New Life Christian Church in Castro Valley.

“My whole family participates by collecting donated food from different ministries, as well as local businesses, and distributing this food to those who need it in our community every Thursday evening.

“With the help of others, I have also been involved with the founding of the nonprofit Future Academy & Current Trends Inc., in 2010. At FACT 411, we provide free tutoring for children from kkindergarten through high school, training in leadership skills for adults, and financial assistance for those in need by providing emergency funds for paying heating bills, etc.

“My work as a mammography lead at Eden Medical Center since 2007 has fueled my volunteer work. The knowledge and skills I’ve gained by caring for patients allows me to “pay it forward.” For example, from 2009 to 2010, I also was able to start a program with the help of the Jack Alotto and the Eden Foundation to give free mammograms to women in our community who needed them. We served more than 50 women.

“My on-the-job skills also have provided me with the ability to teach free community classes on breast cancer awareness and have given me the opportunity to serve others through Sutter events, such as Eden’s Run to the Lake, Rowell Ranch Rodeo, October Open House and the Fall Festival.

“Caring enough to pass on the blessings I’ve been given is an important part of my life. Serving others and putting their needs before mine always gives me a deeper sense of self.”

After 18 months of planning, training and focusing, more than 500 clinical staff, physicians and IT specialists supported and transported patients from critical care to the Emergency Department.

“Each patient had an assigned transport team and necessary clinical staff to ensure their safety and comfort,” said Rose Corcoran, R.N., vice president of patient care.

“It was an incredible day–to work with such an experienced and caring team and to witness not only making the new medical center come to life, but seeing the implementation of the new electronic health record–all in one day . . . I’m very proud!”

First patients in the new Eden Medical Center, Hayward resident Alaina Gonzales and her baby boy

The first patients (Hayward resident Alaina Gonzales and her baby boy) arrived in the new building at 7:15 a.m. The first baby born in the new hospital was to Hayward resident Monica Rosiles whose baby boy, Robert Cash, arrived at 7:06 p.m.

First baby born in the new Eden Medical Center: baby boy, Robert Cash (with his mom, Hayward resident Monica Rosiles)

Trained transport teams wore grey and blue vests; moved gurneys, beds and wheel chairs; high-fived each other; applauded first and last patients; and even shed a few tears.

Every patient had two transportation team members and a nurse during their move. And, depending upon how ill patients were, additional registered nurses, respiratory therapists and physicians were added, when appropriate.

FACT SHEET

• 7 stories (that mark the highest point in Castro Valley!)
• Cost: $320 million, funded through Sutter Health. No taxpayer dollars were used.
• 130 private patient rooms
• 34-bed Universal Care Unit
• 22 private emergency exam rooms
• 4 trauma bays
• 34 dialysis-supported patient rooms
• 66 patient rooms with lift equipment installed in ceilings
• 6 surgery suites, 1 minor procedure room, 2 endoscopy suites
• 2 bi-plane neurointerventional suites
• 4 labor delivery recovery rooms
• 12 postpartum beds
• 12 nursery bassinets
• 220,000 square-foot hospital
• 80,000 square-foot medical office building
• Built on 600 piers, each 3 feet in diameter and drilled 60 feet into the ground
• Additional green space (including 70 new trees)

James Moore, who serviced elevators at Eden Medical Center nearly 60 years ago, takes his last ride on the elevators in the original hospital—as a patient.

For just one of the many fascinating stories about the memorable move day, please see patient James Moore’s story “The Last Ride on Move Day.”

James Moore signing his “goodbye” on the elevator wall in the original hospital.

James Moore began servicing elevators at Eden Medical Center nearly 60 years ago. But when the new medical center opened Saturday, he took his last ride on the elevators in the old hospital—as a patient.

Known as “Big Jim” because he tops out above 6 feet tall, Mr. Moore began servicing elevators when he was just 17 years old.

“It was right after the second World War. I helped my brother service the elevators at I. Magnins in San Francisco when elevators operated on a relay logic system, which meant they were run by cables and generators. Today, all elevators are electronic, run by computers.”

Without good maintenance, elevator systems can age before their time—parts wear out faster–and this compromises the safety of the system.

Mr. Moore worked for Westinghouse and maintained the original Eden Medical Center’s elevators for five years. Later, he was on call servicing them 24 hours a day.

“I remember when the Loma Prieta Earthquake struck in 1989, I was called in because a few people were stuck in the elevators for a few hours,” recalled Mr. Moore.

“We had to get on top of the elevator to release the safety cables underneath the elevator that clamp to a rail. Then we had to put the cables back into their sockets and make sure everything was in operating order. We got everyone out safely. Today, all the elevators at Eden are electronic, so there are no cables.”

When Mr. Moore took his last ride on an elevator in the old Eden hospital Saturday morning, he signed “Big Jim” on the wall in the elevator to commemorate his years at and memories of Eden: His five children were also born at the old hospital.

“It was really nostalgic,” Mr. Moore noted. “Eden has been such a big part of my life.”

First impressions are important. When Connie Taylor-Smith of environmental services walked into the new Eden Medical Center, she was amazed: “I’ve worked here for 28 years and they said they were going to build a new hospital. And now it’s happened. And it’s awesome!”

There were many other “firsts” on our Move Day, including our first patients: Alaina Gonzales and her baby, Izaiah, were the first to be moved into the new medical center at 7:15 a.m.–just 45 minutes after the last baby was born in the old Eden Medical Center.

We began moving patients at 7 a.m. By the day’s end at 3:15 p.m. on Dec. 1, a total of 75 patients were transferred from the old hospital to our new 220,000-square-foot facility.

Thank you!

Thanks to everyone for their tireless efforts to make our Move Day safe, efficient and smooth.

For many, it was the first time they had been involved with a patient move. Here’s what a few of them had to say:

Shervin Dolatshahi

“I’m very excited for a new beginning, but I’m leaving a lot of good memories behind. My son was born at Eden in 2001.” –Shervin Dolatshahi

(L-R): Lauran Brown and Tracy Chan

“It’s an honor to part of Eden’s history and future.” –Lauran Brown

“I am excited about this historic move!” –Tracy Chan

David Waters

“So sorry to say goodbye to the old building; we knew everything about her. Time to get to know the new building–she has a beautiful face!” –David Waters

(L-R): Natalie Jeung-Tom and Dianna Jess

“I am excited to be able to work on the first surgical patient at the new medical building.” –Natalie Jeung-Tom

“It’s really sad to leave the old building because I’ve been here 47 years. But it’s really exciting to be here in the new building. I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years.” –Dianna Jess

Annie Koya

Congratulations to everyone whose teamwork made our Move Day a huge success!

Come see our new medical center!

Now that we are moved in, come see our new hospital! Or click here to take a virtual tour.

A few highlights from our new facility include:

• Innovative building technologies, including laser scanning and three-dimensional “virtual” modeling using Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology

• 2010 Global Building Information Modeling (BIM) Technology Award given to our new Eden Medical Center for using building information modeling in an exemplary way, maximizing collaboration

• Cutting-edge imaging equipment, including the latest diagnostic and treatment technology to provide high quality and high resolution images for precise diagnosis and treatment

• State-of-the-art surgical suites equipped with surgical tables and navigation equipment tailored for specific procedures

• Green design, using sustainable building techniques that save energy and water, as well as incorporate recyclable materials with minimal environmental damage

• Tracking towards Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, which is the recognized standard worldwide for measuring high performance, sustainable green buildings

The old hospital will also contribute to a greener Eden Medical Center. By 2014, we will demolish our old hospital to make room for green space (bio-retention areas) as well as expanded parking for patients and visitors.