Contra Costa Herald

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

CA attorney general announces four multi-billion dollar nationwide opioid settlements

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Today’s commitment by CVS, Walgreens, Teva, and Allergan is an important milestone in California’s efforts to address epidemic

OAKLAND – June 9, 2023 — California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced four multi-billion opioid settlements with pharmacies CVS and Walgreens and manufacturers Allergan and Teva are moving forward. The settlements are together worth up to $17.3 billion and address the companies’ role in the opioid crisis. The Walgreens and CVS deals are the first multistate settlements to hold chain retail pharmacies to answer for their role in the crisis. Today’s announcement is an important milestone in California’s efforts to address an epidemic that has destroyed communities and ripped apart families.

“We’ve made historic strides forward in our fight for justice and relief for Californians hurt by the opioid crisis,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Nothing can bring back the lives lost or erase the suffering caused by this crisis, but we are making sure those who caused it and profited from it are held to account for their greed and willful misconduct. These hard-fought and hard-won settlement funds will be critical in supporting victims and getting them the help they need to recover. I am proud of the work put in by my team and by our partners across the nation in making these wins possible.”

Opioid manufacturers Allergan and Teva have committed to move forward with settlements for up to $2.37 billion and $4.25 billion, respectively, to resolve allegations that, among other things, the companies deceptively marketed opioids by downplaying the risks of addiction and overstating their benefits. If the settlements are approved by the court, California may receive up to approximately $375 million from the Teva settlement and up to approximately $205 million from the Allergan settlement. The settlements with the opioid manufacturers also include strong injunctive relief that prohibits opioid-related marketing by Teva while Allergan is prohibited from selling opioids for the next 10 years.

Chain pharmacies CVS and Walgreens also committed to moving forward with national settlements worth up to $5 billion and $5.7 billion, respectively, to resolve claims that the companies ignored signs of prescription abuse and failed to prevent drug diversion. If approved by the court, California may receive up to approximately $470 million from the CVS settlement and up to $510 million from the Walgreens settlement. CVS and Walgreens have also agreed to injunctive relief that requires the pharmacies to monitor, report, and share data about suspicious activity related to opioid prescriptions. A final agreement with Walmart, worth up to $3.1 billion, is not being announced today; however, that settlement is expected to move forward in the coming weeks.

Since the first wave of the opioid epidemic hit the United States in 2000, it has taken hundreds of thousands of lives, torn families apart, and eroded the social fabric of communities. Its toll has continued to grow year after year. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that in 2021, more than 80,000 people may have died of overdose deaths involving opioids in the U.S., and over 11,200 of those deaths took place in California.

The opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies who helped fuel the crisis through their unlawful practices and profited from it are at the center of Attorney General Bonta’s fight for justice and relief.  To date, the California Department of Justice has secured approximately $50 billion in nationwide settlements and expected settlements, including with opioid manufacturers Johnson & Johnson, Mallinckrodt, and Purdue Pharma L.P. and the Sackler family; distributors Cardinal Health, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen; and consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

  • In March of 2022, Attorney General Bonta announced a $6 billion conditional settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family over their alleged deceptive and illegal marketing and sales practices, in an agreement that would also allow the family’s name to be removed from buildings, scholarships, and fellowships.
  • In February 2022, a bankruptcy court confirmed a plan that would allow an agreement between certain states, including California, and Mallinckrodt, the largest generic opioid manufacturer in the United States, to move forward. That settlement includes an expected $1.6 billion payment by the company to a trust that would benefit public and private opioid-related claimants.
  • In July 2021, Attorney General Bonta announced a $26 billion settlement, which was finalized in Spring 2022, with Johnson & Johnson, which manufactured and marketed opioids, and Cardinal Health, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen, the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors. It was the second largest multistate agreement in U.S. history, and its terms bar Johnson & Johnson from being involved in selling or promoting opioids for a decade and require the distributors to monitor, report, and share data about suspicious activity related to opioid sales.
  • In February of 2021, the Attorney General announced a $573 million settlement with one of the world’s largest consulting firms, McKinsey & Company. The settlement resolves California’s investigation into the company’s role in advising opioid companies (including OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma) in the promotion and sale of their drugs.

These settlements are expected to bring in billions in funding for California communities, which will, among other things, be used to:

  • Increase support for substance-use disorder facilities and improve infrastructure for treatment.
  • Address the needs of communities of color and vulnerable populations, including those who are unhoused.
  • Strengthen availability of Naloxone (also known as NARCAN) or other FDA-approved overdose reversal drugs.
  • Double down on interventions for drug addiction in vulnerable youth and supporting those in the juvenile justice system with treatment options.
  • Improve training and resources for law enforcement and first responders regarding appropriate practices and precautions when dealing with fentanyl or other drugs, including with regard to addressing the needs of criminal justice-involved persons with opioid-use disorder and mental health issues.
  • Implement best practices for outreach, diversion, and deflection.
  • Support job creation programs to help connect those recovering from substance use disorders with gainful employment and pathways to financial stability.
  • Improve data-sharing and management systems to detect suspicious activity, including with regard to the prescription of controlled substances.

 

Risk assessment finds Martinez refinery release did not increase risk of exposure to hazardous metals in local soils 

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Proposed sample locations map. Source: CC Health

Investigation continues into refinery’s failure to notify the public of Nov. 2022 hazardous materials release

By Contra Costa Health

A toxicologist hired by Contra Costa Health has determined that a release of spent catalyst in November 2022 did not increase risk to public health from exposure to hazardous metals in the soil. (See related articles here and here)

The risk assessment, done by TRC, came to this conclusion after metals detected in 14 soil samples did not appear in similar ratios or quantities to spent-catalyst dust samples collected shortly after the accident at Martinez Refining Company (MRC) on Nov. 24-25, 2022. Metals detected in the soil samples were also within an expected range of levels typically found in the state.

“Contra Costa County has taken all steps to determine whether residents suffered any health consequences from November’s hazardous materials release. We are committed to holding MRC responsible for any impacts to the community and to ensuring that this type of incident does not happen again,” said John Gioia, Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.

MRC remains under investigation by the Contra Costa District Attorney for failing to notify authorities when a process upset released 20 to 24 tons of waste into the air, covering nearby neighborhoods in a dust that contained metals.

Source: Martinez Refining Company

An oversight committee, which includes residents from affected areas, was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to investigate whether the release increased risk of health problems in the community due to environmental contamination and is also overseeing an independent community investigation of the cause of the release.

The County’s health officer, Dr. Ori Tzvieli, will lift a March health advisory that warned refinery neighbors not to eat produce grown in soil possibly contaminated by spent catalyst dust until environmental testing could be completed.

“Now that we have these results, I personally would have no issue eating fruits and vegetables grown in ground soil from one of the affected areas,” Dr. Tzvieli said.

The soil testing did underscore the fact that metals in the ground are a fact of life in developed areas like Contra Costa with heavy industry and agriculture. Metals found in the samples included lead and arsenic, once commonly used in pesticides, but the measured amounts did not suggest a link to the spent-catalyst release.

It’s important to note that there is no absolute safe amount of arsenic that humans and animals can ingest. But while most edible plants absorb some small amounts of arsenic, they usually do not contain enough to be a health concern.   

Dr. Tzvieli said if people are worried they may have elevated levels of lead, arsenic or other metals on their property, they can grow produce in pots or raised garden beds using clean store-bought soil. He also recommends rinsing and/or scrubbing produce well and peeling root crops like potatoes and carrots.

The primary health risk from the spent-catalyst release happened in the initial hours and days after the refinery accident when people may have been exposed from breathing in dust particles. In response to community concerns about potential long-term health impacts, the County initiated the community risk assessment and soil sampling.

Soil-sampling sites were chosen using a plume-model map developed by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and input from the Oversight Committee.  

“We thank everyone for their patience as the Oversight Committee researched the impact of this incident on our community,” said Supervisor Federal Glover, who represents residents in areas affected by the release. “Industry has a responsibility to operate in a safe and responsible way. We will work tirelessly to hold them accountable when they don’t meet our standards.”

The root cause of the November hazardous materials release – and how a similar accident can be prevented in the future – is still being investigated by the County and the oversight committee. The District Attorney is considering legal action against MRC for not properly notifying the County of the release, which health officials learned about from social media.

For more information, visit our MRC oversight webpage.

 

Kaiser Permanente Richmond employees support daughter’s childhood dream to become a doctor

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Bianca Silva with parents Letty and Martin Silva on graduation day. Photos: Kaiser Permanente

“Sí se puede! Dreams do come true!

Dr. Bianca Silva.

By Ronelle Scardina

Bianca Silva believed her grandfather’s words, “Sí se puede,” and her mother’s advice that “if you can think it, you can make it happen.” On May 20, Bianca graduated with a D.O. degree from Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is preparing for her first job in June as a family medicine resident physician at Kaiser Permanente Vallejo with the intention of serving the local community she once grew up in as a teen.

Bianca’s parents, Martin and Letty Silva, work at the Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center. He is a gardener, and she is an administrative assistant. Both parents supported their daughter’s dream of becoming a doctor. After years of hard work, they are excited to see her dreams come true.

“When Bianca was in middle school, my husband would pick her up from school as he was getting off his shift and bring her to me at the pharmacy at the Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center,” Letty recounted. “She had to wait for 30 minutes until my shift ended because he worked the night shift and I worked the day shift. Bianca enjoyed her visits. She got to know the team and had an opportunity to be exposed to so much about working in the medical field. One day, Bianca looked up at me and said that she wanted to become a doctor when she grows up.”

Bianca always demonstrated commitment to pursing her dream and working with medically underserved and vulnerable populations. She worked hard—something she learned at a young age. Growing up, she helped her father with landscaping side jobs by picking up sticks and leaves in return for treats at McDonald’s.

“We believed it was important to teach them responsibility and commitment,” Martin said. “We said that if they could think it, they could make it happen!”

It has been a long journey, but the family was always there to support and encourage Bianca along the way. She was especially close to her now deceased grandfather, Raul, who encouraged Bianca to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor — “Sí se puede, echale ganas . . . Yes, you can, give it your best!”

“He motivated her to achieve her goal,” Letty noted. “Bianca put in a lot of effort and never gave up. She’s looking forward to the day that she can visit his grave with her degree and let him know all about it. Although he won’t be at her graduation, Bianca knows deep in her heart that he will be there with her in spirit.”

Bianca was born at the Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center. She grew up in Richmond with her older brother, Martin, Jr., and younger sister, Jessica. She later moved to Vallejo to attend Jesse Bethel High School. Bianca received most of her care at Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center, where she would eventually match for residency. She currently lives at home in Fairfield with her cat, Luna.

The family is looking forward to celebrating Bianca’s graduation and new job on June 10.

Letty, Bianca and Martin Silva.

Martin Silva has been employed at Kaiser Permanente Richmond since March, 1995. He spent seven years in Environmental Services before transferring to the Landscape Team as a gardener, where he has worked ever since. Letty has worked for Kaiser Permanente Richmond since 1987.

A Richmond native, Letty hoped to work at Kaiser Permanente since she was a little girl because she wanted to give back to the local community.

“We love our community,” she said. “We love to help our neighbors and our other family at Kaiser Permanente—it’s considered our home away from home. It took a lot of sacrifice and commitment, and it means everything. We are so proud of Bianca’s accomplishments. It was worth it!”

Health Advisory lifted after weeklong mercury cleanup in Martinez

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A HazMat team cleans up a mercury spill at the Martinez Amtrak station mercury spill on May 8, 2023. Photo: ConFire

“At no point did we detect enough mercury on city streets to cause an immediate health concern” – Dr. Ori Tzvieli, Contra Costa County Health Officer

Contra Costa Health (CCH) lifted its health advisory for downtown Martinez after hazardous materials crews completed a cleanup of spilled mercury that contaminated streets and a train station.

The advisory, issued May 9, asked the public to avoid walking in the street along a five-block stretch of the city, including parts of Marina Vista and Alhambra avenues, and Buckley and Berrellesa streets, after trace amounts of the toxic material were discovered in the public right-of-way late that afternoon. (See related article)

“At no point did we detect enough mercury on city streets to cause an immediate health concern. The primary concern was reducing the risk of people tracking it inside, where over time it could cause health issues,” said Dr. Ori Tzvieli, Contra Costa County’s health officer. “We realize the work has been disruptive to the community and appreciate the partnership of the City of Martinez as we worked to keep people informed about our progress.”

The investigation of the spill began Monday, May 8, when an ambulance responding to an unrelated emergency call reported the substance in the parking lot of the Martinez Amtrak station, 601 Marina Vista. A CCH hazardous materials team responded and found a substantial quantity of mercury on the ground.

Health officials believe the mercury was placed in a garbage can in the station parking lot and, on May 8, removed by a city crew emptying trash cans along a route between the lot and the city yard off Buckley. Investigators on May 9 found traces of mercury that dripped from the truck along the city crew’s route, prompting the health advisory.

Cleanup crews from CCH, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a private contractor have worked over the past week to neutralize and remove all detectable mercury from more than 4,000 feet of roads along the city maintenance truck’s route, an area that eventually extended to locations including in front of Rankin Park and a parking lot in the Martinez Marina. Cleanup at the Amtrak station, which is now open again, was completed over the weekend.

The source of the mercury remains under investigation by law enforcement. Anyone with information about the dumping of the mercury at the Amtrak station is encouraged to contact the Martinez Police Department’s tip line at 925-372-3440.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month: Friendship is good medicine

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Smiling friends at a picnic. Photo: KP.org

Loneliness and isolation contribute to health risks including insomnia, anxiety, depression, and even a shorter life span.

Finding and nourishing friendship is the remedy.

By Lynn Mundell, Senior Manager, Writers and Copywriters, Kaiser Permanente

In early May, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, released an advisory addressing the “epidemic of loneliness and isolation” affecting the country and laying out a plan for advancing social connection.

While the news may have surprised some, Jessica Johnson, a licensed clinical social worker at the Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center, has seen the topic of loneliness arising more frequently in her practice.

Loneliness and isolation contribute to a range of health risks.

“Patients at our clinic are complaining of anxiety or depression, but not realizing how their basic social isolation is playing a huge part in that.”

Missing friendships

According to Johnson, the 2020 pandemic that started with shelter-in-place disrupted friendships. Over the ensuing years, people moved away, changed jobs or retired, began virtual classes and workdays, or withdrew from their social lives due to health concerns.

“As a result, people haven’t always had opportunities to build friendships or even maintain some of the friendships they already had,” she said.

Johnson said this shift has resulted in a lack of companionship for people of all ages, from new college students isolated in dorm rooms, to those working from home.

“Statistically we’ve seen that many of us really have our strongest friendships from our school days or through the workplace,” she said. “But when the pandemic hit, we lost that structure and connection.”

“Johnson added that seniors are also struggling to transition to a more virtual world, due to inexperience with technology.

“Most senior are not working anymore, and they often don’t have access to the virtual world that the rest of us do. Isolation and loneliness for them is tenfold.”

Making friendships

While it would be natural to blame the pandemic for the shift in friendships, the share of people saying they have no close friends at all went from 3 percent in 1990, to 12 percent in 2021, according to the World Economic Forum.

It may be difficult to pinpoint all of the reasons behind the decades-long decline, and instead more constructive to coach people in friendship-making. Johnson has a number of practical ideas.

  • Reach out

Haven’t heard from a friend in a while? Pick up the phone and say hello. Schedule regular calls with loved ones. If everyone is comfortable, schedule a trip to catch up in person. “Who in your life offers you comfort, validation, or recognition?” Johnson asked. “Those are the people to seek out.”

  • Take the lead

Invite a new or old friend to lunch. Organize a neighborhood block party, book group, or crafting circle. “We’re all hungry for some more social interaction,” Johnson said. “It’s OK to be the one who initiates it, because more than likely the person you’re asking is also really in need of a friend.”

  • Get out there

Friendships can be founded on shared interests. Take a class or volunteer in your community. After you make a new friend, initiate a coffee date. Johnson said if you have social anxiety, ask questions. “People love to talk about themselves.”

  • Ask for help

“Sometimes the people in your life can’t give you direction or don’t know the answers,” Johnson said. If you’re lonely and having difficulty connecting with others, she recommends support and therapy groups — another place where she has seen friendships grow.

Johnson said friendships matter, for what they do for us and for how they make us feel.

“Friends give us access to others, to resources, and to opportunities from work to dating,” she said. “We are hardwired to feel, be seen and heard, and to be valued. A good majority of our most important relationships are with our friends.”

 

Contra Costa DA’s Office settles multi-county enforcement action with CVS Pharmacy

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Will pay almost $8 million for selling expired over-the-counter drugs and baby formula.

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

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office Consumer Protection Unit has settled a civil law enforcement action against CVS Pharmacy for selling expired over-the-counter drugs and baby formula.

The settlement is part of a multi-county enforcement action initiated by Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Fresno, Marin, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Shasta, Solano, and Yolo Counties District Attorneys’ Offices. Locally, Contra Costa Deputy District Attorney Bryan Tierney prosecuted the case against CVS Pharmacy, Inc., Longs Drug Stores California, L.L.C., and Garfield Beach CVS, L.L.C., (“CVS”).

CVS Pharmacy owns and runs pharmacies and retail stores throughout California – with 31 stores in Contra Costa County. These stores offer a variety of products such as over-the-counter drugs, food, infant formula, and baby food.

California law prohibits retailers from selling or offering for sale any over-the-counter drug that has expired. Also, food retailers in California are prohibited from selling or offering for sale any infant formula or baby food that has passed its “use by” date, as mandated by the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

The civil complaint — which was filed in Santa Cruz County Superior Court on May 9th — alleged that CVS Pharmacy has been selling expired over-the-counter drug products, as well as infant formula and baby food past their “use by” date for the past four years.

After being informed of the violation, CVS Pharmacy cooperated with authorities and acted by conducting internal checks for expired over-the-counter drugs, infant formula, and baby food that were past the “use by” date at all their retail locations in California. CVS Pharmacy also invested time and resources to retrain store personnel to verify the expiration dates of food and drug products.

It’s important to note that the investigation did not uncover any evidence that the sale of expired or past the “use by” date products resulted in harm to consumers.

Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton said, “This enforcement action underscores how our work helps to protect consumers from unlawful business practices. The residents of Contra Costa County must have confidence that the products they purchase are safe and not beyond their expiration dates. This settlement shows that CVS Pharmacy understands the seriousness of the violations and has taken steps to remedy the problem.”

CVS Pharmacy agreed to abide by a court order that prohibits any further violations of California law regarding the sale or offer for sale of expired over-the-counter drugs or infant formula and baby food past their “use by” date. The agreement was made without admitting or denying any wrongdoing. As part of the judgment, CVS will pay $6,500,000 in civil penalties and investigative costs, as well as an additional $1,000,000 in restitution. The restitution amount will be contributed to various charitable organizations that serve California residents throughout the state. Locally, CVS Pharmacy will pay the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office $475,000 in civil penalties, and $19,000 to reimburse the office for prosecution costs.

Hazmat crews cleaning up mercury on Martinez streets, including near Rankin Park

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By Contra Costa Health

After receiving a call from a resident this morning, our hazmat team identified an additional location in Martinez contaminated with mercury – this one near Rankin Park where Buckley Street hits a dead end. The team immediately conducted cleanup operations at this location after confirming the presence of mercury in the street. We did a visual inspection in the park itself and did not find any evidence of mercury in the park. (See related article)

Contra Costa Health spoke with the City of Martinez maintenance team and determined that the same garbage truck that collected trash at the Amtrak Station also serviced this location near Rankin Park on Monday, May 8. We have updated the map showing the route the garbage truck took after emptying the contaminated trashcan at the Amtrak station.

Hazmat cleanup crews are currently in the process of decontaminating parts of streets in the Martinez downtown area where mercury has been seen. We estimate the cleanup will take 1-2 days. There will be rolling street closures throughout the day today and possibly into tomorrow as the cleanup work is being done.

The Amtrak station remains closed and we don’t have an estimate for when it will reopen.

Anyone at the Amtrak station Monday or anyone who walked along the affected streets that thinks they may have stepped in mercury should take precautions to avoid contact with it. Shoes or clothes that have touched mercury should be double bagged and sealed shut and placed outside. Call our Hazmat Program at 925-655- 3200 during regular business hours for further handling instructions.

Health Advisory: Mercury cleanup in downtown Martinez

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EPA and Contra Costa HazMat Team members clean up a mercury spill at the Martinez Amtrak station on Monday, May 8, 2023. Photos: ConFire

Spread of mercury contamination first discovered at Martinez Amtrak station wider than initially believed

Avoid parts of downtown, sections of streets temporarily closed over next several days

By Contra Costa Health

Last updated: May 9, 2023, 8:09 pm

Further investigation by county health officials shows traces of mercury was inadvertently spread by a garbage truck while traveling on its route after picking up contaminated trash from a waste receptacle at the Amtrak station in downtown Martinez on Monday.

To reduce the potential risk of exposure to mercury, Contra Costa Health (CCH) asks the public to avoid walking on the streets in affected parts of downtown Martinez and use the sidewalks until the residue of a spill is removed, so people or pets do not track the material indoors.

The contamination is limited to the street and has not been detected in amounts great enough to create an immediate risk to health.

“From a health standpoint, our primary concern is that people don’t step in the mercury on the street and bring it inside their homes where indoor vapors may pose a health hazard,” said Dr. Ori Tzvieli, the County’s health officer.

Dr. Tzvieli added that while the health risk posed by exposure to mercury from this release is low, it’s important for the community to be informed of any potential health risks and take appropriate actions. CCH issued a health advisory to the community earlier this evening.

Initially, the mercury release was thought to be contained to the area immediately outside the train station. But after examining the five-block route taken by the city of Martinez garbage truck today, Contra Costa Health’s hazmat team and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identified small amounts of mercury in the roadway, primarily on Marina Vista and Alhambra Avenues and Berrellesa Street.

Sections of these streets will be temporarily closed over the next several days while cleanup takes place:

Marina Vista Avenue between the station and Alhambra Avenue; Alhambra from Marina Vista to Buckley Street; Buckley from Alhambra to Berrellesa Street; Berrellesa from Buckley north to the Martinez City Public Works yard.

The train station has been closed since mid-afternoon on Monday after ambulance paramedics from Confire at the site, who were there for another matter, saw mercury on the ground. Mercury has also been detected inside the train station itself.

Anyone at the Amtrak station Monday or anyone who walked along the affected streets that thinks they may have stepped in mercury should take precautions to avoid contact with it.  Shoes or clothes that have touched mercury should be double bagged and sealed shut and placed outside. Call our Hazmat Program at 925-655-3200 during regular business hours for further handling instructions.

Instructions

Shoes or clothes that have touched mercury should not be brought inside if it can be avoided. Never attempt to wash an article that may be contaminated with mercury, by hand or with a washing machine. This can increase the risk of the mercury being vaporized.

It is not known who dumped the mercury at the Amtrak station or why. Local law enforcement is investigating the matter.

 

Contra Costa Regional Medical Center earns “A” for safety from national evaluator

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Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) has earned an A grade for hospital safety from the Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit evaluator of healthcare services.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade evaluates nearly 3,000 general acute-care hospitals across the U.S. for occurrence of preventable safety problems such as surgery-related infections or complications, observed safety incidents, and the presence of staff training and procedures to prevent errors in care.

The latest grades, released Wednesday, show that CCRMC, which is part of Contra Costa Health (CCH), provides its patients with some of the safest, highest-quality healthcare in the nation.

“Our county’s commitment to health and equity for all underscores our belief that our county’s most vulnerable and lowest-income residents deserve the highest quality medical care,” said John Gioia, chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. “We are proud that Contra Costa’s full-service community hospital has been recognized for the excellence and quality of its care.”

Leapfrog assesses several dimensions of patient safety including medication safety, complex surgeries for pediatric and adult patients, maternity care, intensive care unit staffing, patient safety practices, managing serious errors and outpatient procedures.

“It really comes down to our staff. It’s an honor to work with so many dedicated, talented health professionals, all of them focused on delivering the best possible care for our patients,” CCH Chief Executive Officer Anna Roth said. “Their daily efforts are reflected in this grade.”

CCRMC is a full-service, 164-bed county hospital that offers patient-centered healthcare services in a modern hospital, including a 24-hour emergency department, and 10 satellite health centers providing high-quality care throughout the county.

CCRMC has been recognized in recent years for many efforts to improve health in Contra Costa County, including the California Association of Public Hospitals, Cal Hospital Compare and the Lown Institute. In 2020, Leapfrog and Newsweek rated CCRMC among the nation’s top hospitals for maternity care.

“We are proud and grateful to be recognized by Leapfrog for patient safety, because safety is our top concern,” said Dr. Samir B Shah, Chief Executive Officer of CCRMC. “Developing, teaching and following best practices improves outcomes, prevents mistakes and improves our patient’s experience. Our clinical system emphasizes a culture of safety where every staff member knows the importance of their contribution in risk reduction at CCRMC. It’s part of our mission, to care for and improve the health of all Contra Costa residents.”

Read the Spring 2023 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for CCRMC here. 

 

Soil sampling conducted around Martinez refinery to assess health risks from “Spent Catalyst” release

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Proposed samples and refinery locations map. Source: CC Health

Martinez Refining Company area map. Source: Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

A toxicologist hired by the County this week began collecting samples of soil that may have been exposed to metal-laden “spent catalyst” released by the Martinez Refining Company (MRC) into the surrounding community last Thanksgiving. (See related articles here, here and here)

Soil samples are being taken from more than a dozen sites, primarily areas neighboring the refinery in Martinez and Benicia. Collected samples will be sent to a lab to analyze for concentrations of metals associated with the catalyst that may pose risks to human health through skin contact, inhalation or from consuming produce grown in the contaminated soil. Lab results of the soil samples are expected in late May or early June.

“We know the community is eager to find out what’s in the soil in their yards and whether they should be concerned for their health,” said Supervisor Federal Glover, whose district includes the refinery, which is owned by PBF Energy Inc. “The soil testing will help provide residents with answers to those questions.”

The sampling plan was based in part on a plume model map created by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District that showed where the spent-catalyst dust likely traveled. The plan was reviewed and approved by the MRC Oversight Committee, which includes seven community residents, at its April 27 meeting.

The soil sampling and risk assessment are being done for the County by TRC, a Concord-based environmental consulting firm. The risk assessment will also compare levels of metals found in the sampled soil against background levels taken from published academic and regulatory sources.

Catalyst dust fallout from MRC on a car. Source: BAAQMD

On November 24-25, 2022, MRC accidentally released up to 24 tons of metal-laden spent catalyst dust into the surrounding community. MRC failed to notify the County about the incident, which the County learned about two days later from social media, as required by local policy. Initial wipe samples of the spent-catalyst dust taken from surfaces in neighborhoods around the refinery in the days after the accident showed elevated levels of certain metals, such as aluminum, barium, chromium, nickel, vanadium, and zinc.

The most acute health risk occurred at the time of the incident when people could have breathed in the dust and caused respiratory distress. Questions have persisted about possible long-term health impacts, particularly from food grown in potentially contaminated soil exposed to the spent catalyst.

In March, with spring and gardening season arriving, the County’s health officer issued an advisory cautioning residents not to eat food grown in potentially contaminated soil until environmental testing could be completed.

“Residents affected by this release deserve to know if there is any health risk. Contra Costa Health is working as quickly as possible to ensure that accurate information reaches the public about this issue,” said Board of Supervisors Chair John Gioia, who also serves on the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board of Directors.

For more information on the risk assessment and independent investigation of the November 2022 incident, visit cchealth.org/hazmat/mrc.