Our Point of View
Jan 26 2008
Response to Articles About Fresno Medical Center
Recent stories raised concerns about patient care issues in 2004 and 2005 involving a perinatologist on the professional staff at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Fresno, Calif.
We have taken these issues very seriously. The hospital in Fresno took action more than two years ago to significantly limit the practice of the perinatologist and to monitor the care he delivers. The Fresno hospital also reported him to the state medical board.
As we have previously said, we are sorry and deeply regret the losses of the families involved. When these events occurred, they were thoroughly investigated and corrective actions were taken. This has led to significant improvements in our perinatal safety program at our Fresno hospital and in a restricted practice for the doctor involved in those cases.
We are committed to ensuring the safety of our patients. In July 2005, the leadership at Kaiser Foundation Hospital Fresno took disciplinary action to significantly limit Dr. Hamid Safari's practice. Since that time, Dr. Safari has not performed vaginal deliveries and his practice has been monitored. Further, since late September 2007, Dr. Safari has not performed any surgeries or C-sections and has been acting in a consultative role within the hospital setting. We will take further steps to ensure Dr. Safari is accompanied during rounds.
This month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported finding issues at our Fresno facility. In particular, the report was highly critical of the Fresno hospital administration's oversight. We have reviewed the facts and taken action to address the leadership issues raised in this report. Senior Vice President and Area Manager Susan Ryan has stepped down, and, effective immediately, she has been replaced in the interim by Linda Monte, current chief operating officer of Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco. We are confident that Ms. Monte will bring strong leadership to the Fresno Medical Center.
We take these issues very seriously, and we will take all necessary steps to ensure that Fresno Medical Center's corrective action plan is fully implemented.
Regarding Dr. Safari, we are legally prohibited from discussing any peer review matters or cases regarding inquiry into a physician's quality of care, based on medical review standards and the laws of California which govern peer review matters. We can't discuss any additional processes or actions that may be underway or are not final. Questions about a particular physician's record and/or actions would have to be answered by the appropriate regulatory agencies.
Dr. Safari has been afforded his due process rights under California law, a process that can be quite lengthy, involving hearings and appeals that can each extend months or longer. In April 2007, the restrictions imposed by Kaiser Foundation Hospital Fresno became permanent and the hospital filed a report with the Medical Board of California.
The hospital has and will continue to fully cooperate with the Medical Board in its investigation of Dr. Safari. Our hospital is no different from any other California hospital in that matters involving review of a doctor's performance or privileges are subject to state confidentiality laws and state and federal due process laws.