San Francisco-based Laguna Honda Hospital was granted its third and final extension May 18 as it attempts to avoid being shut down, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The hospital recently applied for a third extension to recertify and delay transferring patients. CMS decertified the facility in April 2022. Originally set to close Sept. 13, the closure deadline was extended after nine patients died upon transfer to another facility. In February, the closure deadline was extended again, to May 19.
Now the facility has until Sept. 19, but regulators warned it would be the last extension. In a letter to the CEO, regulators cited a May 8 incident in which the facility was cited for placing a patient in immediate jeopardy by failing to provide a care plan for the patient with a history of suicide attempts but noted the hospital addressed the problem by May 12.
The extension was granted because "Laguna Honda has made some significant quality improvements," the letter said, but warned it would terminate the agreement if the facility made another serious violation.
Hospital officials told the San Francisco Chronicle that they plan to apply for reinstatement before the end of the next deadline.