NORTH HILLS : Quake Marred Nursing Home Is Rededicated

The nursing facility at the Sepulveda Veterans Administration medical center, badly damaged in the Northridge earthquake, was rededicated on the quake’s anniversary Tuesday.

Officials in the Clinton Administration helped celebrate the rebirth of the nursing home, which was closed for more than 10 months after the temblor. Patients at the home have slowly begun returning since the facility was repaired at the end of November.

A year ago, the entire medical center was in a state of chaos, recalled David Medway, a second-year resident physician.

“Patients in (the intensive-care unit) who had been on ventilators were lying on the grass,” and had to have their air manually pumped, said Medway.

More than 300 patients were transported to three sister VA hospitals in West Los Angeles, Loma Linda and Long Beach.

While the nursing home is fully repaired, the hospital at the medical center was so badly damaged that it has been shut down.

One nursing home patient, Fred Smead, who fought in World War II, said he was concerned that the hospital care he had received before the quake is now gone.

“This idea of having to call 911 to get hospital care . . .” said Smead, his voice trailing off as he shook his head.

Instead of reopening the hospital, the medical center will expand its outpatient and extended care.

VA Undersecretary for Health Kenneth Kizer, who attended the rededication, said an emphasis on outpatient care is the wave of the future for modern medicine.

“In the 21st Century, we’ll see more network care and information systems. Medical care will be less about bricks and mortar,” Kizer said.