Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Three Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in Contra Costa receive top patient safety rating

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The Leapfrog Group’s biannual safety report gives an “A” to Richmond, Walnut Creek and Antioch locations for limiting patient injuries, reducing medical errors, and preventing infections

By Antonia Ehlers, PR & Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

The Leapfrog Group recognized both the Kaiser Permanente Richmond, Walnut Creek and Antioch Medical Centers with a top score of “A” in its biannual Hospital Safety Grades report. After reviewing hospital clinical performance, The Leapfrog Group assigned letter grades to nearly 3,000 hospitals throughout the United States. The Kaiser Medical Centers in Walnut Creek and on Sand Creek Road in Antioch received the same top rating for Fall 2022. Kaiser’s Richmond Medical Center improved from its B rating last fall. (See related article)

Hospitals received grades based on approximately two dozen measures that analyze patient injuries, medical and medication errors, and infections. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.

This spring, 17 Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Northern California received “A” scores including: Antioch, Richmond, Walnut Creek, Fremont, Fresno, Manteca, Modesto, Oakland, Roseville, San Francisco, San Leandro, San Rafael, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, South San Francisco, Vacaville and Vallejo. Additionally, Kaiser Permanente hospitals in Redwood City, Sacramento and San Jose received “B” scores.

More than 80% of Kaiser Permanente Northern California (17 of 21) hospitals received an “A” grade. In California overall, only 34% of the state’s hospitals earned the top grade.

“Patient safety is at the heart of everything we do,” said Chris Boyd, senior vice president and area manager of Kaiser Permanente’s Diablo Service Area. “We are honored to be recognized as a leader in patient safety, and we are incredibly proud of our health care professionals who make a difference every day.”

The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits, released its Hospital Safety Grades after examining publicly available data on patient injuries, medical and medication errors and infections at U.S. hospitals. The report includes data collected by national health care organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Scores are calculated based on more than two dozen publicly available measures, and hospitals are then assigned A, B, C, D or F grades for their safety records. The grades are released as a free resource to help patients and their families make informed health care decisions.

“Recognitions like this speak to our commitment to safety,” said Sharon Mowat, MD, physician in chief of the Antioch Medical Center. “Our goal is to provide excellent, compassionate patient care of the highest quality and safety to every patient, every day.”

Kaiser Permanente is one of America’s leading integrated health care providers and serves more than 12.6 million members. Nationally, 29 of 39 Kaiser Permanente hospitals, nearly 75% percent, received a Leapfrog Safety “A” grade. In contrast, less than 30% of the nation’s hospitals received an “A” rating.

For more information and a complete list of the hospital safety grades, visit Leapfrog.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.6 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.

 

Martinez man charged with gun possession in a school zone

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Suspect out on bail

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has filed a two-count complaint against a Martinez man for possessing a firearm in a school zone.

23-year-old Michael Joseph Childressfrey has an arraignment date set on May 31st for offenses related to an incident that occurred on April 26th at John Swett Elementary School on Alhambra Avenue in Martinez.

At approximately 1:00 pm, Martinez Police were dispatched to the school campus to investigate reports of a known adult male who was in the school parking lot. Police were told that the man was not a welcomed presence, and he frequently carries a firearm.

When officers arrived at the school, they approached Childressfrey in a parked vehicle. He was cooperative, and when asked, Childressfrey said he was in possession of a firearm. Law enforcement authorities placed Childressfrey under arrest for gun possession in a school zone and carrying a loaded concealed firearm. Later, police seized two additional weapons from Childressfrey’s residence. Childressfrey was taken into custody and immediately posted bail before the investigation could be referred for prosecution.

While the incident was resolved peacefully, parents and neighbors have expressed their concern over the matter, and that Childressfrey posted monetary bail the day of his arrest.

District Attorney Diana Becton said, “This incident is understandably distressing– my Office worked in conjunction with the Martinez Police Department to ensure a swift filing determination. After receiving a request for prosecution from Martinez Police on Friday, the DA’s Office reviewed the case and filed the necessary documents with the court to initiate prosecution on Monday.”

Case No. 01-23-01358 | The People of the State of California vs. Childressfrey, Michael Joseph

Pleasant Hill community group claims council produced gerrymandered district maps

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Pleasant Hill City Council Draft District Maps for five or four districts with a directly-elected mayor showing where the incumbents live and the order in which their  seats would be up for election. Source: PH Community Alliance

City faces possible lawsuit if they don’t switch to district elections; next public hearing Monday, May 1

By Pleasant Hill Community Alliance

Kevin Shenkman of the law firm Shenkman and Hughes has issued a notice of an impending lawsuit against the City of Pleasant Hill if they do not move to by-district elections. The attorney is representing the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP) and the Pleasant Hill Community Alliance.

Founded in 1974, SVREP is the oldest and largest non-partisan Latino voter participation organization in the United States.

The Alliance is a community group composed of residents and California Voting Rights advocates who have been working tirelessly to ensure that the city’s district maps are drawn in a fair and equitable manner that accurately reflects the communities of interest within the city. However, their efforts have been met with resistance from the City Council, who have refused to take into account the input of residents and instead have instructed a demographer to create two maps that appear to be based only on councilmember input.

According to the City’s districting process webpage, the Council is considering remaining with five council members and a rotated mayor and maps with five districts or changing to a city-wide, directly elected mayor and maps with four council districts. Following the April 17, 2023, public hearing, the City demographer prepared a draft electoral division map with five districts and another with four districts. In addition, five more five-district maps were submitted by members of the public, including Draft Map 2 submitted by the SVREP and the Alliance referred to below as the “Minority Coalitions”. The seven draft maps are available for viewing by clicking on the links on that page. The City will hold public hearings on May 1, May 6, and May 22, 2023, to discuss and gather feedback on the draft maps.

The draft maps look to protect incumbency, with jagged lines drawn around councilmembers’ homes and the homes of candidates from the 2022 City Council election. In addition, it appears that Councilmembers have instructed the demographer to diminish minority votes in East Pleasant Hill by creating only one minority majority coalition, when there could be two. The minority coalitions in Pleasant Hill which are largely composed of Asian, Latino, and mixed-race residents.

The Alliance is deeply concerned about the City Council’s actions and the potential harm that could be done to the democratic process if these maps are adopted. They have called on the City Council to reconsider their approach and to work with the community to create district maps that accurately reflect the interests of all residents.

“We cannot stand by and allow the City Council to ignore the voices of the community and create district maps that are designed to protect their own interests,” said Alliance spokesperson Michelle Simone. “We will take all necessary action to ensure that the democratic process is upheld and that the voices of all residents are heard.”

Comparison of Pleasant Hill City Council Draft District Map for five districts and proposed map submitted by the Minority Coalitions showing minority populations. Source: PH Community Alliance

The Alliance is urging residents to attend the next City Council meetings on May 1 at 7pm and May 6 at 2pm to voice their concerns about the proposed district maps. They are also calling on the City Council to work with the community to create district maps that accurately reflect the diversity of Pleasant Hill.

A post on the group’s Facebook page challenges the districting maps claiming they result in “cracking” which reduces the influence of Communities of Interest, specifically minority communities. The post reads, “Cracking refers to the practice of drawing electoral districts that divide the population of a community or constituency across several districts. In doing so, the influence of the community or constituency may be reduced, preventing the group from forming a voting block within any single district sufficient to elect the group’s preferred candidates. This practice contrasts with packing, in which the population of a community or constituency is consolidated within a small number of districts, thereby minimizing its influence in other districts. Cracking and packing may be used in conjunction to minimize the influence of a particular voting bloc to benefit another, a practice referred to as gerrymandering.” https://ballotpedia.org/Cracking

For more information, please contact the Pleasant Hill Community Alliance at Community94523@gmail.com, visit their website or Facebook page.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Three suspects sought in armed robbery of $100K in jewelry in downtown Walnut Creek

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By Lt. Ryan Hibbs, Walnut Creek Police Department

On Friday, April 21, 2023, at 10:21 P.M., the Walnut Creek Police Department responded to a parking garage in the 1600 block of Mt. Diablo Blvd. for a reported armed robbery where the victim was struck in the face with a firearm and robbed of $100,000 in jewelry, including a Rolex watch.

The victim described the suspects as three male adults who were wearing all dark clothing and carrying rifles. Prior to officers arriving, the suspects fled in a grey sedan. The victim was treated for minor injuries at the scene.

The Walnut Creek Police Department is reminding everyone to be aware of their surroundings and to report any suspicious activity. Anyone with any information regarding this case is asked to contact the Walnut Creek Police Department at 925-943- 5844 or call the Anonymous Tip Line at 925-943-5865. Case #: 23-13295

Student arrested for attempted murder and mayhem against another student at Northgate High School Tuesday

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By Lt. Holley Connor, Walnut Creek Police Department

Walnut Creek Police are investigating a violent assault on a student at Northgate High School, 425 Castle Rock Road, that took place this afternoon, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Walnut Creek Police Department officers and detectives arrived, detained the student believed to be responsible, and quickly determined this was an isolated incident between two students. Based on the initial investigation, the suspect was arrested for PC 664/187 – Attempted Murder and PC 203 – Mayhem. He was transported to Contra Costa Juvenile Hall and is being held without bail.

The victim is currently being treated for her injuries at a local hospital and her condition is unknown.

The names of the involved parties will not be released, as they are juveniles. No other details are available at this time because this is an active investigation.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Walnut Creek Police Department at 925-943-5844 or call the Anonymous Tip Line at 925-943-5865. Case #: 23-13721

Cancer Support Community and BASS Medical Group form collaboration to increase support to cancer patients, families

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In picture from BASS: CEO Inez Wondeh, MPA, MBA; Jesse Kaestner, BS, RT(T); K. Kenneth Chao, M.D.; Dr. Soheila Azghadi, BASS Medical Group; From CSC: Board President, Donald Duggan; Board VP, Patricia Falconer, MBA; Danielle Bertoni (and BASS), Rob Tufel, MSW, MPH; Margaret Stauffer, LMFT. Source: CSC

Cancer Support Community San Francisco Bay Area (CSC) and BASS Cancer Center, a division of BASS Medical Group, have partnered to develop an automated patient screening process to identify and refer patients at an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and stress to free mental health services provided by Cancer Support Community.

This new referral process is now integrated into BASS Cancer Center’s electronic medical record system. Patients will automatically be provided information for CSC’s services when they indicate an increased risk of mental and emotional stress related to their cancer diagnosis.

“As many as three out of every four cancer survivors experience symptoms of psychological distress which can negatively impact clinical outcomes and quality of life,” says Rob Tufel, MSW, MPH, Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Support Community. “Unfortunately, fewer than 10% of patients are referred for support by their medical team. The lack of support is even more pronounced among cancer patients from communities of color and those who have lower incomes as well as older adults.”

CSC Board Member, Patricia Falconer, MBA, notes that “40% of Cancer patients experience financial hardship as a result of their diagnosis. This unique collaboration between CSC and community-based cancer providers is a model of how to increase patients’ access to vital support including financial assistance and navigation.”

This new screening tool was developed by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network––an alliance of 32 leading cancer centers devoted to patient care research, and education––and is designed to look for evidence of psychological, social, spiritual, and physical indicators that may interfere with one’s ability to cope effectively with cancer, its physical symptoms, and its treatment.

“As the number of cancer patients continue to increase, it is vital that we offer not only high-quality medical care but also comprehensive support,” explains Inez Wondeh, MPA, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of BASS Medical Group, “It was really important to us to develop a streamlined process to better address our patient’s needs and partnering with Cancer Support Community, who already provides excellent psychosocial services for patients and families at no cost, was a natural fit. This will make an incredible impact for our patients.”

CSC has locations in Walnut Creek and Antioch. To learn more visit cancersupport.net.

CHP Officer injured by suspected DUI driver on Hwy 242 in Concord

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Traffic was blocked in all lanes of Hwy 4 westbound in Concord Saturday night, April 8, 2023.

By Adam Lane, PIO, CHP-Contra Costa

Last night, April 8, 2023, at 8:22pm, a CHP Contra Costa Officer was conducting an enforcement stop on a Chevrolet on the right shoulder of southbound Hwy 242, south of Hwy 4. The Officer was standing near the Chevrolet when a Mercedes traveling southbound veered from the roadway and struck the rear of the Chevrolet. The force of the crash caused the Chevrolet to strike the Officer standing near it.Our Officer was transported to the hospital where she was treated for her injuries and later released. She is expected to make a full recovery. The driver of the Chevrolet suffered potential minor injuries and was transported to the hospital. The driver of the Mercedes sustained no injuries and was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.

Traffic was blocked in all westbound lanes of Hwy 4 from the Hwy 242 interchange to east of the Port Chicago Highway offramp causing a back-up on the freeway until about 8:55 p.m.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Healthcare workers to protest understaffing at Walnut Creek, Antioch Kaiser hospitals   

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By Renée Saldaña, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW)

Starting the week of April 10, healthcare workers at medical facilities across California, including Walnut Creek and Antioch, will hold events to speak out against the dangers of short staffing and the effects on patients and caregivers.

On Tuesday, a protest will be held at Kaiser Permanente in Walnut Creek from 11 am to 1 pm and on Wednesday, another protest will be held at Kaiser Permanent on Sand Creek Road in Antioch, also from 11 am to 1 pm.

“After years of understaffing and dealing with the pandemic, we are stretched thin and burnt out. Healthcare workers are leaving the field, and those of us who have stayed are doing the work of two or three people. We can’t give our patients the care they deserve without enough staff,” said Datosha Williams, a service representative at Kaiser Permanente. “We are calling on Kaiser to do what it takes to hire more caregivers so that we can deliver the best care possible for our patients.”

After three years of the COVID pandemic and chronic understaffing, healthcare workers are calling on management to provide safe staffing levels and additional support. Caregivers say that short-staffed hospitals can lead to long wait times, mistaken diagnoses, and neglect, making it harder to give patients quality care.

Even before the pandemic, California faced a massive shortage of allied healthcare workers to care for its aging population — as many as 65,000 workers annually, according to conservative estimates. The stress and the toil of fighting the pandemic has led many to leave the industry, creating a full-blown healthcare staffing and patient care crisis.

A survey of over 30,000 SEIU-UHW members, Crisis in Care, highlighted the short-staffing crisis in California, with 83% of responding healthcare workers saying their facility is understaffed. At the same time, healthcare corporations are reporting record profits.

Concord man killed in shooting outside Pleasant Hill bar identified

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Police seek suspect

By Lt. Jason Kleven #392, Pleasant Hill Police Department

On April 3, 2023, at about 1:12 AM, the Pleasant Hill Police Department received 911 calls of a shooting with a victim down in the parking lot of Farrington’s Bar at 1938 Contra Costa Blvd. Upon police arrival a single victim was found deceased in the parking lot. The suspect was not on scene and is believed to have fled in a vehicle prior to police arrival. The investigation determined the shooting occurred after a dispute started between two groups of people. The victim has been identified as a 37-year-old male residing in Concord.

The Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office identified the man as Oscar Laredo-Arellano.

Pleasant Hill Police Detectives are actively working on this case. Any witnesses to the incident or anyone with information is asked to contact the Pleasant Hill Police Department, 925-288-4600.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Police seek suspects in smash and grab theft at Concord jewelry store

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By Lt. Robert Garcia, Concord Police Department

BURGLARY/GRAND THEFT – Sunvalley Shopping Center

Concord Police Case Number 23-03286

On March 31, 2023, at approximately 7:06pm, Concord Police Dispatch received a report of three masked subjects who entered St. Andrew Jewelers in the Sunvalley Shopping Center and smashed several cases with hammers. The employees of the store reported that the suspects made off with miscellaneous jewelry items. Officers responded to the scene however, the suspects had already left in a waiting vehicle. The actual dollar value loss is still being determined. There were no reported injuries during the incident.

The suspects were described as three African-American males in dark clothing and wearing ski masks, armed with hammers.

As this is an ongoing investigation, no further information is being released at this time. If you have any information regarding this case, you can contact our anonymous tip line at 925-603-5836.