Dear Friends,

                         It was very  hectic last 2 days. Here are the updates

1.  RMC announced  yesterday that they are now doing  PARTIAL closures instead of full closures of specailty programs . Please read  full statement here. RMC Statement

2.  Coalition partners rejected  the HCA offer which is too little and doesn't meet the needs of the local community. When there is a choice between life and death, there should be no bargaining.  County supervisor Cindy Chavez,Dr Raj Gupta  Jaria Jung , Darcie Green and other leaders of the coalition to save RMC rejected the HCA proposal  and had a press conference today . Here are  links  for press coverage

KTVU , KQED, Mercurynews

We rejected the proposal due to serious concern for safety of the patients and quality of the  services 

A Trauma surgeon  on call rather than in house is a big loss with trauma 3 rather than trauma 2 level we have now  . Response time of up to 30 minutes  by a suregon with trauma activation when every minute counts is unacceptable in middle of metropolitan high density population with highest number of trauma cases in the county . It is too little service for the needs of the population . Imagine if earthquake occurs in Bay Area or mass casualties or big accidents ,  we will have great tower 1 and 2 but trauma surgeon may not be able to reach to the site on time when needed the most . It is emergency asset of the community which should be preserved . 

B Loss of neurosurgeons is unacceptable to neurosciences department . This number of 97% stroke pts being helped at RMC without neurosurgeons is beyond imagination  . Our hemorrhagic strokes are about 30 to 40 % of the total stroke volume and they all need to be transferred including Subarachnoid hemorrhages , subdural hemorhges , hemorrhagic transformation of ischemic stroke , intracerebral  hemorrhage, Intraventricular hemorrhages .  Neuro IR physicians need neurosurgical back up when things go wrong during procedures . It is unimaginable to have no neurosurgeon on call in the hospital which was served by Dr Emeka Njewkebi recipient of first humanitarian award couple of years ago at Nashville . We have highest number of most complex cases of stroke in the county and stroke team can’t survive without neurosurgeons for the acuity of population we serve 

C. Cardiac program without STEMI program is dangerous as majority of patients with STEMI are coming through walk ins and not EMS as per Dr  Siddiqui . It will be very high liability for cardiologists on call when unstable cardiac pts show up in ED in our neighborhood which has high number of heart attack pts . It is also dangerous for all admitted pts if they have cardiac issues in middle of the night or weekends  . Up to date modern cardiology program is backbone of any good hospital . 

3. We had a Town Hall Meeting which was attended by physcians , nurses, community members and elected officials . Speakers included City Councilman Peter Ortiz, Raj Gupta MD, Jaria Jung, Darcie Green and many others. Q& A was done. People resolved to continue protests till all programs are fully restored. 

4. Our Battle continues : Next week plans include

      All Day Rally on July 24 from 1PM-6PM at Regional Medical Center
      Caravan to Good Sam on July 25 from 3PM-5PM (start at RMC, leave for Good   Sam at 3:30PM, Rally at Good Sam from 4PM-5PM). Details to follow

In this battle between Profits and People, People will win eventually . Lets affirm our faith in : Do No Harm, Save Lives, Health for All, People over Profits

Wish you a blessed weekend. 

Vounteers ASESJHS