Thank you, again and again!
Two local newspapers (the SF Chronicle and the SF Examiner) posted stories today about this petition and the relocation plan. (See below) This is now a well-publicized issue. And, thanks to your signature we made this happen!!!!
I spoke, in person, at the San Francisco Department of Public Health Commission today to urge them to stop relocating Laguna Honda residents. While awaiting my turn to speak, an article was uploaded to the SF Chronicle (below) stating that a third person had died.
The summary of my statements are that the SFDPH can unilaterally stop the relocation and influence CMS to decouple it from recertifying the hospital. This isn't a big lift because a CMS executive stated that there wasn't a quota for relocating residents in order to be recertified. They are not linked.
I urged them to continue to fund Laguna Honda through the recertification process and not allow anyone to be relocated. I made a moral plea. They are trying to achieve recertification (the ends) by appeasing CMS by relocating residents (the means). The ends are justifying the means. This is immoral because, predictably, 3 people have died out of 40. Why? To either ensure that funding is secured through mid-Sept ($15M x 2 = $30M), or to show good-faith to CMS so that they will approve the recertification.
The ends are justifying the means. This is immoral.
SFDPH needs to fund LHH through to recertification. It's the moral thing to do. We now need the SF Board of Supervisors to prioritize the funding for this period.
Hopefully we can get Xavier Becerra to turn off this whole mess and allow San Francisco to resolve the operational challenges at LHH in a more systematic manner. The nuclear option CMS has executed has been heard and is having an impact. Change is inevitable.
Please keep forwarding this petition to friends, family, business contacts, church associates, or anyone you believe would be sympathetic to this cause. It impacts all Californians, Nevadans, Oregonians and Arizonians.
AMPLIFY! (The following articles link back to this petition)
SF Chronicle: https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Evidence-emerges-of-elderly-patients-dying-after-17315913.php
Westside Observer: https://westsideobserver.com/news/watchdog.html#jul22-City-Hall's-Tepid-Response-to-Patient-Transfers-at-Laguna-Honda
SFDPH Commission Meeting (7/19/22): https://sf.gov/meeting/july-19-2022/july-19-2022-health-commission-meeting
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/726401761924390
Sincerely,
--Joe Urban