Healthcare Roundup—California hospital weighs reopening after wildfire; Ascension postpones closure of D.C. hospital

California hospital shuttered by wildfires may not reopen

An Adventist Health hospital which was forced to close by fast-moving wildfires that devastated the town of Paradise and the surrounding region last month has not committed to reopening the $64 million hospital. 

The Sacramento Business Journal reports that officials said they remain dedicated to providing healthcare in the community. But they declined to say if they would reopen the Adventist Health Feather River hospital, saying they needed to assess the damage and the needs in the community. (Sacramento Business Journal)

Ascension postpones D.C. hospital closure

D.C.-based Providence Health System was planning to shutter its emergency room and acute care services this month. But the hospital, a part of St. Louis-based Ascension Health, will now keep its emergency department open for patients with less severe conditions through April, the Washington Business Journal reported. 

The hospital also plans to keep up to 15 active inpatient beds to support those services.

Local officials have been in talks with Ascension, trying to fight the planned closure of the full-service hospital for an outpatient health village model. The Catholic health giant said the change makes sense with the community's needs, which have included falling inpatient volumes and growing losses for the hospital. (Washington Business Journal)

Nebraska hospital alleges employee embezzled $4.4M

Officials have accused the former pharmacy director at Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha of embezzling $4.4 million from the hospital. 

According to the allegations filed by the state Attorney General's Office, the employee created a company called RxSYnergy and submitted false invoices for a fictitious drug, “Broxcilam,” as well as others for legitimate medications. She allegedly funneled the money into her personal accounts. (Omaha World Herald)

Wisconsin digital therapeutics startup acquired by device giant ResMed

A Wisconsin-based startup that makes digital inhalers has been purchased by medical device giant ResMed for $225 million.

Propeller Health, which bills itself as the “leading digital therapeutics company,” created a digital inhaler to help patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a disease that impacts 16 million Americans. 

ResMed CEO Mick Farrell called the purchase a “significant step for ResMed towards becoming the global leader in digital health for COPD.” ResMed has manufactured more than 6 million cloud-connected remote monitoring devices, with a focus on sleep apnea and respiratory illnesses. (FierceHealthcare)