Other outpatient programs, such as Parkinson’s therapy, senior fitness and other therapeutic activities, are up in the air. Patients who have used the hospital’s transportation service are also concerned that might not be continued, but Martinez said Mission’s transportation service for seniors will be adapted to the Laguna site.
Pink slips in April
All 580 employees of South Coast Medical Center received “pink slips” April 9 and some worry that jobs they hoped would be offered by Mission Hospital will not bear fruit, according to sources in the hospital.
Employees at the Laguna hospital were told they could reapply for positions after receiving layoff notices — required by law to be handed out by Adventist — which still technically owns the hospital. But jobs in the outpatient treatment facilities were not posted by Mission, according to employees and other sources.
At the same time, outpatients who have received physical therapy at the South Laguna facility are finding out they may have to travel to Mission Viejo to get treatment.
‘Smooth transition’
Mission Hospital has “committed” to retaining only the emergency room, intensive care unit, medical/surgical units and ancillary services, including labs and imaging facilities at the Laguna Beach hospital, Martinez said.
“Other services are under discussion,” Martinez said. She could not elaborate on which departments might not be retained at the Laguna Beach facility.
