PROTESTERS RALLY TO KEEP HOSPITAL UNIT TRANSITIONAL CARE MAY BE CONVERTED.Byline: ALEX DOBUZINSKIS Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, -- Protesters rallied at Henry Mayo Newhall Newhall may refer to:
Nearly 30 sign-carrying protesters attended the rally, chanting, ``If you close, senior woes'' and ``Don't fail the frail frail 1 adj. frail·er, frail·est 1. Physically weak; delicate: an invalid's frail body. 2. .'' Hospital officials said closing the 27-bed transitional-care unit could let the hospital increase its number of acute-care beds, but no final decision has been made. Many of the protesters were senior citizens who have received care at the TCU (Transmission Control Unit) A communications control unit controlled by the computer that does not execute internally stored programs. Contrast with front end processor, which executes its own instructions. . The unit mainly serves elderly people and helps patients not sick enough to need acute care, but not yet ready to go home. ``It's only 27 beds; you know this is a big hospital,'' said former Santa Clarita Mayor Jo Anne Darcy, who is in her 70s. ``... It's not a situation where the hospital will go broke if they keep this up.'' Monday's rally was the third that has been held to oppose closing the ward. Organizers said if the TCU closes, patients would need to use facilities in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. or Palmdale to get a similar level of care. Hospital officials said they do not expect to reach a conclusion on what to do with the TCU unit until the end of July. ``We really don't want to make a hasty hast·y adj. hast·i·er, hast·i·est 1. Characterized by speed; rapid. See Synonyms at fast1. 2. Done or made too quickly to be accurate or wise; rash: a hasty decision. decision,'' said Andie Bogdan, a Newhall Memorial spokeswoman. There is a growing need for acute-care facilities, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the hospital. Converting the 27 TCU beds could allow the hospital to expand its acute-care beds without a major construction project. ``Obviously building another ... tower is another way to go,'' Bogdan said. ``But that takes a number of years to accomplish.'' alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com (661) 267-5253 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Former Santa Clarita Mayor Jo Anne Darcy leads a protest outside Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital on Monday. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
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