Laguna Honda Hospital

Last updated
Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center
Laguna Honda Hospital from Forest Hill Extension, August 2020 (cropped).JPG
Laguna Honda Hospital
Geography
Coordinates 37°44′57″N122°27′25″W / 37.74917°N 122.45694°W / 37.74917; -122.45694
Organisation
Care system Medi-Cal
History
Opened1866

Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center is a nonprofit, publicly funded, 780 bed long-term acute care hospital in San Francisco, California, United States. It was founded in 1866 during the California Gold Rush as an almshouse, and later grew into an asylum, then an accredited hospital in 1963. It has been described as America's "last big almshouse". [1]

Contents

History

The main entrance Laguna Honda Hospital (51657364).jpg
The main entrance

Laguna Honda was an early homeless shelter or almshouse, a place to house the poor, sick, and disabled, starting in 1867, [2] in the wake of the California Gold Rush. [3] On 87 acres of land, residents were self-sufficient, growing food and tending dairy cows. [4] [3] In 1868, due to an outbreak of smallpox, a small hospital was constructed, which was later used as a mental asylum, but the primary focus remained on sheltering the destitute. [5] The population increased to 500 by 1870. [5]

With the 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroying much of the housing in the city, the need for services provided by Laguna Honda became more acute, and three years later a new wing of 1,000 beds was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt. [4] [3] In 1910, Clarendon Hall was opened as the first permanent building intended for long-term care. [4] The main hospital buildings were opened in 1926, built in the Spanish Revival style. [6] In the 1930s, the hospital continued to grow as it started to serve as a teaching center for the University of California and started performing surgery and taking x-rays. [6] The Friends of Laguna Honda Hospital are a group that has supported Laguna Honda since the 1950s against threats of loss of funding and closure, as well as volunteering to support the hospital and providing amenities for its residents. [6] Laguna Honda received hospital accreditation in 1963, [4] and renovated the main buildings in the 1970s. [6]

Laguna Honda is non-profit and publicly funded. Dedicated to the care of "the very poor, the very sick and the very disabled", it has been described as America's "last big almshouse". [1]

Conditions in recent years

In the late 1990s, Laguna Honda was troubled by threats of closure due to mismanagement, overcrowding, and "egregious conditions" according to federal investigators. [7] [8] City attorney Louise Renne secured settlements for the city from tobacco industry consumer protection lawsuits, and a ballot measure had $141 million of that put towards rebuilding and modernizing Laguna Honda, replacing Clarendon Hall with a new facility. [6]

Issues arose again in 2019, when the San Francisco Department of Public Health found years of abuse by six hospital employees of the residents, which led to police investigation and later reforms to procedures and reporting. [9] [10] In 2021, the hospital reported non-fatal overdoses that led the state to begin an audit, which concluded in October that the hospital was no longer in compliance with those requirements, and was given six months to remedy the situation. [10] However, in March 2022, federal funding from Medicare and Medicaid was also put in jeopardy when regulators found drug paraphernalia, smoking, and, of the most concern, a patient possessing a lighter while also being on supplemental oxygen, a severe fire risk. [10] The hospital remedied that designation within a week by restricting visitors and searching possessions. [10] However, the next month, federal funding, which was two thirds of the hospital's budget, was cut after new deficiencies were found relating to hygiene, documentation, and prevention of infection. [11] Patients were ordered to be transferred out of Laguna Honda, but with very few options, only 57 patients were found a spot at another hospital, 41 of them were actually moved, of which 12 died soon after. [8] [12]

The city sued the federal government, and in October, a settlement was reached, extending funding temporarily until November 2023 and putting a pause to the transferring of patients out of Laguna Honda. [13] [1] The federal government approved a detailed "action plan" in January 2023, with visits every 90 days to verify progress. [8] In August 2023, Laguna Honda applied for readmission into Medi-Cal, which more than 95% of its residents rely upon, based on its completion of its planned comprehensive improvements, [14] and funding was restored five days later. [12] In June 2024, the facility was reapproved to receive federal Medicare, and residents that were moved to other hospitals were invited back as first priority, with the first eleven returning in August 2024. [15] [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco</span> Consolidated city-county in California, US

San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, financial, and cultural center within Northern California. With a population of 808,988 residents as of 2023, San Francisco is the fourth-most populous city in the U.S. state of California behind Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose, and the 17th most populous in the US. It covers a land area of 46.9 square miles at the upper end of the San Francisco Peninsula, making it the second-most densely populated major U.S. city behind New York City and the fifth-most densely populated U.S. county, behind four of New York City's boroughs. Among the 92 U.S. cities proper with over 250,000 residents, San Francisco is ranked first by per capita income and sixth by aggregate income as of 2022. San Francisco anchors the 13th most populous metropolitan statistical area in the United States, with almost 4.6 million residents in 2023. The larger San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland combined statistical area, the fifth-largest urban region in the U.S., had a 2023 estimated population of over 9 million.

Medicare is the publicly funded universal health care insurance scheme in Australia operated by the nation's social security agency, Services Australia. The scheme either partially or fully covers the cost of most health care, with services being delivered by state and territory governments or private enterprises. All Australian citizens and permanent residents are eligible to enrol in Medicare, as well as international visitors from 11 countries that have reciprocal agreements for medically necessary treatment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gavin Newsom</span> Governor of California since 2019

Gavin Christopher Newsom is an American politician and businessman serving since 2019 as the 40th governor of California. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 49th lieutenant governor of California from 2011 to 2019 and the 42nd mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011.

A nursing home is a facility for the residential care of older people, senior citizens, or disabled people. Nursing homes may also be referred to as care homes, skilled nursing facilities (SNF) or long-term care facilities. Often, these terms have slightly different meanings to indicate whether the institutions are public or private, and whether they provide mostly assisted living, or nursing care and emergency medical care. Nursing homes are used by people who do not need to be in a hospital, but require care that is hard to provide in a home setting. The nursing home staff attends to the patients' medical and other needs. Most nursing homes have nursing aides and skilled nurses on hand 24 hours a day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco Unified School District</span> School district in California, United States

San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), established in 1851, is the only public school district within the City and County of San Francisco, and the first in the state of California. Under the management of the San Francisco Board of Education, the district serves approximately 49,500 students across 121 schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City College of San Francisco</span> U.S. community college

City College of San Francisco is a public community college in San Francisco, California, United States. Founded as a junior college in 1935, the college plays an important local role, enrolling as many as one in nine San Francisco residents annually. CCSF is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Academy of Art University</span> For-profit art school in San Francisco, USA

The Academy of Art University, formerly Academy of Art College and Richard Stephens Academy of Art, is a private for-profit art school in San Francisco, California. It was founded as the Academy of Advertising Art by Richard S. Stephens in 1929. The school is one of the largest property owners in San Francisco, with the main campus located on New Montgomery Street in the South of Market district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco Sheriff's Office</span> Sheriffs office for the city and county of San Francisco

The San Francisco Sheriff's Office (SFSO), officially the City and County of San Francisco Sheriff's Office, is the sheriff's office for the City and County of San Francisco. The current sheriff is Paul Miyamoto. The department has 850 deputized personnel and support staff. The SFSO is a separate organization from the San Francisco Police Department. However, SFSO deputies and SFPD officers have all attended a POST-mandated police academy, and are duly sworn California peace officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco General Hospital</span> Hospital in California, United States

The Priscilla Chan and MarkZuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (ZSFG) is a public hospital in San Francisco, California, under the purview of the city's Department of Public Health. It serves as the only Level I trauma center for the 1.5 million residents of San Francisco and northern San Mateo County. It is the largest acute inpatient and rehabilitation hospital for psychiatric patients in the city. Additionally, it is the only acute hospital in San Francisco that provides 24-hour psychiatric emergency services.

University Preparatory Charter Academy, also known as "U-prep" or "UPREP", was a charter high school in the Oakland Unified School District, California. It was founded in 2001 by Isaac Haqq in the Eastmont Town Center at the corner of 72nd Street and Bancroft Ave. In its first year of operation, the school had about 80 students and taught a ninth grade curriculum, expanding in number of students and grade levels taught each year. The school doubled in size from some 130 to 260 students in 2004.

Isaac Haqq is an American businessman, educator, and former municipal politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">June 2006 San Francisco general election</span>

The June 2006 San Francisco general elections were held on June 6, 2006, in San Francisco, California. The elections included one seat to the San Francisco County Superior Court and four San Francisco ballot measures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Wiener</span> American politician (born 1970)

Scott Wiener is an American politician who has served in the California State Senate since 2016. A Democrat, he represents the 11th district, encompassing San Francisco and parts of San Mateo County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ingleside Terraces, San Francisco</span> Place

Ingleside Terraces is an affluent residential neighborhood of approximately 750 detached homes built at the former location of the Ingleside Racetrack in the southwestern part of San Francisco, California, United States. It is adjacent to the Balboa Terrace, Ingleside, Merced Heights, and Lakeside neighborhoods, and is bordered by Ocean Avenue to the north, Ashton Avenue to the east, Holloway Avenue to the south and Junipero Serra Boulevard to the west. The main local event that occurs is the Annual Sundial Park Picnic, in which the local residents host bicycle, chariot, and wagon racing. There is a large sundial located on Entrada Court, surrounded by the oval-shaped Urbano Drive, which was once a horse race track. Ingleside Terraces is one of nine master-planned residence parks in San Francisco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rose Pak</span> American political activist

Rose Lan Pak was a political activist in San Francisco, California, noted for her influence on city politics and power in the Chinatown community. Pak served as a consultant for the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce and organizer of the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco.

Friends of Laguna Honda is a name used over the years by Laguna Honda Hospital Volunteers supporting Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center (LHH), a 62-acre skilled nursing and rehabilitation center owned and operated by the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Breed</span> Mayor of San Francisco since 2018

London Nicole Breed is an American politician who is the 45th and current mayor of San Francisco, serving since 2018. She was supervisor for District 5 and was president of the Board of Supervisors from 2015 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinatown station (Muni Metro)</span> Subway station in San Francisco, California, US

Chinatown station is an underground Muni Metro light rail station, located under Stockton Street at Washington Street in the Chinatown neighborhood of San Francisco, California. It opened on November 19, 2022, as part of the Central Subway project. The station's official name honors Rose Pak, a political activist in the Chinatown community who helped secure support and funding for the station and the extension of the T Third Street line.

Lynn Mahoney is an American university president, author, and social historian. Mahoney is the president of San Francisco State University (SFSU) since July 2019, and is the first woman to hold this role. Her scholarly work has focused on United States history, women's history, feminism, race studies, and ethnicity. She is the author of Elizabeth Stoddard and the Boundaries of Bourgeois Culture ; a book about novelist and poet Elizabeth Stoddard.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Knight, Heather (3 August 2022). "A tragic crash brought him to Laguna Honda. Now, the feds may force him and other patients out". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  2. ↑ "City and County of San Francisco, Almshouse, San Francisco, CA". PCAD - pcad.lib.washington.edu. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Didion, Tim (11 October 2016). "Laguna Honda Hospital celebrates 150 years". ABC. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gillam, David (9 April 2015). "A Look at Laguna Honda: Loyalty to the Past and Openness to Change". California Preservation Foundation. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  5. 1 2 Pershan, Caleb (14 October 2016). "From Gold Rush Almshouse To Hospital, Laguna Honda Celebrates 150 Years Of Care". SFist. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Laguna Honda History and Building". SF.gov. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  7. ↑ Dougan, Michael (12 July 1998). "Laguna Honda in peril". SFGate. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 Asimov, Nanette (13 April 2023). "These 26 'original sins' brought S.F.'s Laguna Honda to the brink of closure". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  9. ↑ Fracassa, Dominic (28 June 2019). "Patient abuse scandal rocks San Francisco's Laguna Honda hospital". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Swan, Rachel (30 March 2022). "San Francisco's Laguna Honda Hospital faces potential closure after patient overdoses trigger state review". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  11. ↑ Swan, Rachel; Whiting, Sam (14 April 2022). "S.F.'s Laguna Honda Hospital has 30 days to avoid a shutdown after feds freeze funding". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  12. 1 2 Asimov, Nanette (16 August 2023). "'Joyous' surprise: State welcomes Laguna Honda back to Medi-Cal in crucial reprieve for nursing home". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  13. ↑ Asimov, Nanette (13 October 2022). "S.F. strikes deal for more time to save Laguna Honda hospital". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  14. ↑ Asimov, Nanette (14 August 2023). "S.F.'s Laguna Honda nursing home takes major step toward ending 18-month crisis". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  15. ↑ Ho, Catherine (20 June 2024). "S.F.'s Laguna Honda recertified by Medicare, ending threat of closure". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  16. ↑ Ho, Catherine (1 August 2024). "Laguna Honda Hospital restarts admissions of new, former residents". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.