News in brief - Dec. 10, 2001

Kaiser fined $500,000 over referral failure in California

The California Dept. of Managed Health Care has fined Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of California $500,000 because a primary care physician failed to refer a patient with muscular dystrophy to a specialist. That patient died six days after the request for a referral was made.

The state agency, which regulates managed care plans, issued the fine Nov. 15 after a yearlong investigation. According to the complaint filed with the state agency, on Aug. 22, 2000, the mother of a 19-year-old Kaiser patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy called the Kaiser patient call center after her son developed breathing problems. He died six days later, still waiting for the referral.

The Dept. of Managed Health Care issued the fine because Kaiser "failed to furnish services in a manner providing continuity of care and ready referral consistent with good professional practice."

The economic downturn likely will help hospitals in retaining nurses, some say.

"We're beginning to see a slight easing in the need to rely on temporary agencies as we had earlier in the year," said Thad Waugh, research associate for Stephens Inc.

Nursing school enrollments remain low, but Waugh said he expected to see more interest in the field.

"Interest in the job is increasing, primarily on a less skilled level. Over time, you would expect to see that filter into a more skilled position," he said.

Staffing has been one of the industry's biggest challenges in recent years.