Supervisors Call for Hearing On Closure Of St. Luke's Skilled Nursing Facility

Supervisors Call for Hearing On Closure Of St. Luke's Skilled Nursing FacilityImage: Google Maps
Bay City News
Published on June 21, 2017

Two San Francisco supervisors are calling for a hearing on the impending closure of a skilled nursing unit at St. Luke's Hospital. 

Supervisor Ahsha Safai, along with Supervisor Hillary Ronen, called for the hearing yesterday, citing concern over the loss of what he described as some of the only sub-acute nursing beds in San Francisco.

Sutter Health California Pacific Medical Center told employees and patients earlier this month that it would be closing its skilled nursing and sub-acute units at St. Luke's in the Mission District by the end of October.

Employee union officials say the closure will affect 44 patients and 72 employees, and argue it may violate agreements made with union and city officials.

CPMC is building a new 120-bed, 215,000 square foot campus for St. Luke's, currently scheduled for a 2019 opening, as well as a new facility at Van Ness Avenue and Geary. 

CPMC officials last week said the skilled nursing facility closure was part of the planned transition into the new building and has been approved by the state Department of Public Health. 

The company said it is adhering to the terms of its collective bargaining agreement and working with affected employees to find alternatives including other jobs or retraining. 

Safai said he was hearing reports from union officials that some patients displaced by the move might be forced to look as far away as Los Angeles for similar facilities. 

"They haven't even finished their new hospital on Cathedral Hill and they're already talking about taking away aspects of their services at St. Luke's," Safai said.

Sub-acute nursing facilities care for patients requiring complex care or rehabilitation.

Sara Gaiser