Human body donations serve vital purposes B-2
Equestrian vaulters return to compete C-1
The ‘Merry Christmas’ plant D-1 Same-day physician appointments are often available. –––––––––––––––––
Village News Fallbrook & Bonsall
a l s o s e rv i n g t h e c o m m u n i t i e s o f
December 18, 2014
Hospital employees talk about effects of closure Debbie Ramsey Managing Editor
D e L u z , R a i n b ow , C a m p P e nd l e t o n , Pa l a ,
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Volume 18, Issue 51
FallbrookHealthcarePartners.com
Harmony abounds at ‘Breakfast with Santa’ 74609_FALL_FHP_2x2c.indd 1
2/24/14 10:10 AM
When Community Health Systems (CHS) closes Fallbrook Hospital completely down on Dec. 20, some of its employees said they individually will face the challenge of trying to find another job, but fear the community itself will experience myriad negative effects for years to come. “I am concerned about the people I care for, because I already see the senior citizens suffering the consequences [of the hospital’s gradual shutdown of services],” said Carlos Perez, who has worked at Fallbrook Hospital for 22 years and also owns a private home care service.
see HOSPITAL, page A-11
County funds allocated: • Bonsall Education Foundation - $25,000 • Community Housing Works - $11,070 • Armed Services YMCA - $10,000 Joe Naiman Village News Correspondent The Dec. 2 allocation of $122,034 of District Five Neighborhood Reinvestment Program funding included $25,000 for the Bonsall Education Foundation, $11,070 to Community Housing Works, and $10,000 for the Armed Services YMCA on Camp Pendleton. The Bonsall Education Foundation will use the money to restore the exterior of the historic Bonsall schoolhouse, Community Housing Works will upgrade learning center computer labs both at the Fallbrook View Apartments and at the Cedar/
The Fallbrook High School Madrigals sing Christmas Carols for guests attending ‘Breakfast with Santa’ at the Fallbrook Community Center on Sat., Dec. 13. See more photos of this event on page C-10.
Shane Gibson photo
Sharing Christmas wishes
see COUNTY, page A-4
thisweek
Announcements ������������������������A-2 Business ��������������������������������������B-5 Classifieds �����������������������������������A-8 Dining �������������������������������������������B-6 Education �������������������������������������C-6 Entertainment �����������������������������B-9 Health & Fitness ������������������������B-2 Home & Garden ������������������������D-2 Legals �������������������������������������������C-8 Obituaries ������������������������������������C-5 Opinion ����������������������������������������A-5 Real Estate ����������������������������������D-2 Sports �������������������������������������������C-1
Jack Mowry, 2, sits with Santa and asks for a train set during the Fallbrook Historical Society’s Old-Fashioned Christmas Open House event on Sat., Dec. 13. See more photos of this event on page B-1.
Shane Gibson photo
Healthcare district still pursuing options Village News
Reports on “disappointments” in progress FALLBROOK - The Fallbrook Healthcare District (FHD) continues to seek solutions to the community concerns as the closure of Fallbrook Hospital proceeds. The board is fully aware of the impacts of the current circumstance and wishes to provide information appropriately reflective of developments regarding continuation of and access to healthcare services and programs within the community. There have been some disappointments along the path being pursued.
Palomar Health had centered their efforts on acquiring the licensing and certification to become the provider of services at the Fallbrook Skilled Nursing facility (SNF). The California Department of Public Health communicated its willingness to issue a license to Palomar Medical Center and the Fallbrook SNF, which would have made the SNF a provider-based facility from the state’s perspective. Unfortunately, the Federal Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) determined that it could
not certify the Fallbrook SNF as a Distinct Part SNF, because of the mileage distance between Palomar Medical Center in Escondido and the Fallbrook SNF. Operation of the SNF as a Distinct Part facility was expressly part of the proposal made by Palomar because the enhanced governmental reimbursement rates for Medical and Medicare patients made the operation financially feasible. The SNF is currently a Distinct Part of the Fallbrook Hospital license, but the existing license cannot be used by a new provider
unless that new provider is willing to also assume operations of the hospital. Palomar continues to work with FHD in determining direction and development of other health pathways for t h e F a l l b r o o k c o m m u n i t y. F a l l b r o o k H o s p i t a l ’s management staff with FHD, and with support of Palomar Health, is continuing in efforts to identify and contract with an entity to operate a “free-standing”
see HEALTHCARE, page A-3