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Obamacare or not, healthcare reform in progress

Nine justices are expected to determine the fate of the Affordable Care Act in June, but they alone won't determine the course of healthcare in this country. That course has already been set. Doctors, hospitals and patients know what politicians and pundits haven't yet realized: The transformational reformation of health care is already in progress. And it will continue to move forward irrespective of what the Supreme Court decides. Hoag and health systems across the country understand that political hot buttons don't matter when you're being wheeled into an E.R. We are not waiting for a Supreme Court decision. We are adapting and moving forward to the reality of a healthcare marketplace that is looking more and more like, well, a marketplace.

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Berkeley will revamp media policies after chief sent officer to reporter's home

Posted May 18, 2012

The city is spending $20,000 to review its police department's media policies after the chief was widely criticized for sending a sergeant to a reporter's home in the middle of the night to ask for changes to an online story. Cornerstone Communications in Irvine will spend the next six months auditing the department's policies and procedures on releasing public information and making certain the department is following state requirements for disclosure, said company founder Bill Rams. The contract also allows the city to reimburse Cornerstone for up to $4,000 in expenses.

Calif. police among nation's most followed on Twitter

Posted May 17, 2012

California police departments made a solid showing in a recent ranking of U.S. law enforcement agencies that have the most Twitter followers. Not surprisingly, a police department whose city limits include the headquarters of such high-tech icons as Google and LinkedIn is among the most followed agencies on Twitter, according to the survey by the International Association of Chiefs of Police Center for Social Media.

Just what the doctor ordered – better hospital food

Posted May 16, 2012

While most people associate hospital food with Jell-O cubes and runny oatmeal, Hoag Hospital Irvine's cafeteria features a decidedly unhospital-like menu of gourmet internationally inspired dishes. The idea to diversify the menu came from Indonesian-born Executive Sous Chef Kasan Soewono. "We want the menu to meet the desires and tastes of the community," says Soewono, 45, a Heritage Park resident. "Pot roast and beef stroganoff aren't as popular in Irvine as they are in Newport Beach."

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Hoag doctor’s reports credited with prompting FDA warning

Posted May 11, 2012

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian’s Dr. Michael Brant-Zawadzki yesterday received an email telling him to watch for an FDA alert regarding an experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis. Dr. Brant-Zawadzki was already very familiar with the procedure, known as “liberation therapy.”

FDA issues warning about controversial MS treatment

Posted May 11, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday issued a safety alert about an experimental treatment for multiple sclerosis a year after a Canadian woman died from the procedure in Orange County. The warning says the FDA has learned of death, stroke, blood clots and other complications as a result of the angioplasty procedure that uses a balloon to open veins draining from the brain and spinal cord. Maralyn Clarke, 56, died last April at Hoag Hospital, five days after undergoing the procedure at Synergy Health Concepts' outpatient surgery center in Costa Mesa. She is believed to be the world's third documented fatality.

FDA issues warning about controversial MS treatment

Posted May 10, 2012

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Hoag Doctor's FDA Warning

Posted May 11, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning Thursday about the risks of serious injuries and death associated with a vein opening treatment for multiple sclerosis patients. Michael Brant-Zawadzki, executive medical director of the Hoag Neurosciences Institute, helped get the warning to the public by reaching out to the FDA after learning several patients in Orange County had serious complications after undergoing the treatment, known as liberation therapy.

Homeless Babies Need Your Donations

Posted May 10, 2012

Homeless moms and their babies are the fastest-growing homeless population, and this Mother's Day they need help from the community. HomeAid Orange County -- a local nonprofit that works to provide shelter for homeless families -- is collecting baby essentials through its 5th annual Essentials for Young Lives Campaign. Diapers, baby wipes, baby food, hygiene products and other baby goods will be collected through Sunday. Last year the campaign collected 321,565 babies items, valued at more than $360,000.

Circle 1000 raises more than $1 million for Hoag Family Cancer Institute

Posted May 09, 2012

For the fifth year in a row, Circle 1000 raised more than $1 million to help advance patient care at Hoag Family Cancer Institute in Newport Beach. Committee members announced the fundraising achievement at their 25th Annual Founders' Celebration Brunch, held April 25 at the Island Hotel Newport Beach.

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Featured Post

Twin police chiefs double the service

Being a twin can be kind of cool. You might look alike, talk alike, even laugh alike. But two grown men dressing alike and strapping on sidearms? That's a little weird -- unless they both happen to be police chiefs. Meet Kevin and Kim Raney, believed to be only the second set of twins in the nation's history to simultaneously serve as police chiefs. That's right. Kevin is Garden Grove's top cop. Kim is Covina's chief. Consider the odds: There had to be openings in their respective cities where they've both served their entire careers, relationships with various officials had to align, their respective qualifications had to hit the mark. Perhaps it's the magic of being a twin?