Oct 26, 2008 6:44 pm US/Pacific
New Rules At Medical Center Forbid Contraception
TARZANA
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The policy does allow the procedures if a patient needs one because of certain health risks or emergencies. But the hospital will no longer perform elective birth control operations such as tubal ligations or vasectomies, following Catholic teachings.
AP
Because of the new owner's Catholic-based policies, doctors at Tarzana Medical Center will no longer be able to perform elective surgical procedures that prevent future pregnancies, it was reported Sunday.
In buying the struggling hospital last month, Providence Health System implemented a policy that follows Roman Catholic teachings and prohibits abortions and surgical methods of birth control on hospital property, the Daily News reports.
The policy does allow the procedures if a patient needs one because of certain health risks or emergencies. But the hospital will no longer perform elective birth control operations such as tubal ligations or vasectomies, following Catholic teachings.
Some gynecologists are considering taking their practices elsewhere.
One doctor has already moved from the medical offices on Clark Street owned by Providence, and another is trying to get out of her lease, said Dr. Brian Fenmore, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Tarzana Medical Center.
An average of seven tubal ligations were performed each month at Tarzana Hospital before Providence bought it, said Dale Surowitz, who was chief executive of Tarzana Hospital under Tenet Healthcare Corp. (the former owner) and remained in the position under Providence.
Officials at Tarzana said they believe none of the 920 physicians at the hospital has left because of the policy. Still, people have informally discussed leaving with others, Surowitz said.
Fenmore said nobody consulted the obstetrical department about the sale of the hospital, which became final Sept. 1. One of his patients, a pregnant woman with her third child, had scheduled a tubal ligation just before the sale, but under the new policy, Fenmore could not perform the surgery on her at Tarzana.
Despite the change in policy, Fenmore and others agree the care at Tarzana under Providence will improve the hospital's standing in the community.
The sale to Providence Health System, reported the Daily News, was seen as a blessing to much of the staff and the community after four years of uncertainty under Tenet, the previous owners.
The acquisition also created the largest nonprofit healthcare network in
the San Fernando Valley. Providence also operates Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank and Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills.
Jim Lott, executive vice president of the Hospital Association of Southern California, told the Daily News the issue of policy changes under a faith-based health-care system "has come up before many, many times."
"Most of the religious-based hospital organizations have struck the appropriate middle ground for providing needs without violating tenets," Lott said. "The policies at first blush do seem restrictive, but do not cut off
services. The services are available, and referrals are made."
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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