Hospital to oust patients

Christopher Alessandra can no longer speak for himself, so his father spoke for him Tuesday night, pleading for the city’s help to keep open the sub-acute care wing South Coast Medical Center.

Alessandra’s parents and the families of the 20 other patients have been given 30 days by Adventist Health to find new accommodations for their loved ones who need constant medical supervision and immediate access to equipment. The families begged the City Council for help to stop the closure or at least stall it until terms of the proposed transfer of the hospital to the Mission Regional Medical Center license is reviewed by the state attorney general’s office.

“This is the only sub-acute [facility] in South Orange County or north San Diego County,” Christopher’s father, John Alessandra, said. “Christopher has been in the sub-acute [unit] for three years, since he suffered a brain injury when a car hit him in a store parking lot. He loves living there. I am asking for your help.”

Masoud Rohi, who also sought the city’s intervention, said the unit was home to his son.

“There is no place else for these people to go,” Rohi said.

City officials could offer only sympathy in response to the heartbreaking appeals.

“This is the most painful testimony I have heard since I was elected,” Councilwoman Toni Iseman said.

However, the city has no jurisdiction over the medical center’s operations.

“There is nothing we can do to get them to turn around,” said Councilwoman Jane Egly, who represents the city on a sub-committee that deals with hospital issues.

Families were notified Feb. 9 that they had 30 days to move the patients from the unit, which is for long-term patients who cannot be attended to in a nursing home, but are not in intensive care, according to Yvonne Toppses, whose husband is a patient.

“These are critical care patients, and it is a cruel injustice to cast them out,” said Ted Mosely, whose father has been in the sub-acute wing for about 10 years, visited twice a day by family members.

Adventist spokeswoman Alicia Gonzales reported that the proposed closure complies with the law and was approved by the California Department of Public Health Licensing and Certification Program.

Iseman advised the families to appeal to a higher power.

“Both groups [Adventist and Mission] are faith-based,” Iseman said.