3 Problems in Hospital’s Care Are Unresolved

A meeting between state health authorities and Grossmont District Hospital administrators Thursday failed to resolve three deficiencies in the hospital’s emergency care uncovered in a recent state investigation, but the other eight have been corrected.

“Basically all three issues are still under further review,” said Ronald Dahlgren, the La Mesa hospital’s chief administrative officer, adding that a second meeting will be held in about two weeks.

The California Department of Health Services report, released Wednesday, detailed 11 deficiencies, eight of which the hospital corrected to the state’s satisfaction before the meeting. The investigation was triggered by the death of Nickey Trevino, a shooting victim who was brought to the La Mesa hospital Christmas Day, but had to be flown by helicopter to UC San Diego Medical Center after the surgeon who had been called failed to arrive in time.

The principal unresolved issue is the maximum allowable response time for surgeons called in life-threatening situations. The Department of Health Services had notified the hospital, which then was one of the county’s designated trauma centers, that must guarantee that a surgeon could respond within 20 minutes of being called. However, Dahlgren said Grossmont’s 30-minute requirement was within standards established by the Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation.

After Thursday’s meeting, Ernest Trujillo, director of the Department of Health Services’ San Diego office, said he would study further Grossmont’s contention that the 20-minute requirement was unrealistic.

“They’re going to reconsider the requirement,” Dahlgren said. “The problem is simply that it’s basically impractical in terms of financial feasibility to obtain what they’re asking for.”