TRANSITIONAL CARE SOUGHT BY SENIORS HOSPITAL FACING PROTESTS.

Byline: SUE DOYLE Staff Writer

VALENCIA -- Protests will resume today at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital over the fate of one unit heavily used by senior citizens.

But the hospital's board of directors isn't expected to have an answer anytime soon about what to do with its transitional care facility, a 27-bed unit that caters to those recovering from illnesses or accidents who are discharged from acute care, but could still use some extra care. It frequently serves as a layover before home.

Used by about 70 percent of seniors admitted to the hospital, the center has been losing money because Medicare payment for that type of care has decreased over time. Hospital officials said that demand for the unit has also dwindled, with about 66 percent of its beds filled last year.

Now the board is considering converting the unit to treat patients with different needs, such as those injured in car accidents or suffering other trauma and needing round-the-clock medical attention -- a need that is growing in the community, officials said.

There is a trend toward phasing out transitional care units at hospitals throughout the state, Roger Seaver, Newhall Memorial president, said. The local scene is similar to ones elsewhere, he added, as such units are converted for other health-care uses.

``The demand had gone down, and the ability to sustain it financially has been difficult, so more hospitals have chosen to reduce that service,'' Seaver said.

After about two years of operation, Antelope Valley Hospital closed its transitional care unit in 2003. It was remodeled as a birthing center, which hospital officials said is a significant community demand.

There are about 5,000 births each year at the hospital, the only one in Antelope Valley with obstetrics service, said Jackie Weder, Antelope Valley Hospital marketing director.

Weder said that little Medicare reimbursement and low occupancy were the main reasons for closing the transitional care unit.

``Reimbursement was the final straw, and that was the decision for it to close,'' Weder said. ``And because we're birthing so many babies, the need was much greater to transition that facility to birthing babies.''

As transitional care on hospital grounds is phased out, seniors are relying more on independent facilities and at-home care to meet their needs. But some argue that these facilities aren't providing the same level of care and that insurance still doesn't cover these services.

The gap between health care and insurance coverage has left many seniors angry.

Santa Clarita resident Robin Clough, one activist leading the charge against Newhall Memorial, said other options for seniors don't fill the gap. She and others on the Committee Against Closing the TCU will stage a sit-in during today's board meeting at the hospital.

``Many people are alone and need to be in this type of care,'' she said.

sue.doyle(at)dailynews.com

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