Barton Health using 2024 to create dual-campus strategy for both states

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Many were caught by surprise when the Lakeside Inn closed permanently in 2020, and was then purchased by Barton Health in 2021.

Demolition then began on the old casino in 2022 to make way for a new medical center.

Since then, questions about future operations have been circulating. Since many South Shore residents live in California, they have wondered what the future holds for their health care if the hospital is in Nevada.

Barton Health is currently developing a project plan to meet the changing needs of healthcare and will be operating with a dual-campus strategy and plans on replacing its hospital in California with one in Nevada.

Several factors weigh into the decision to rebuild the California hospital, including the need to adapt to evolving federal and state regulations, challenges of growth and infrastructure, and changes in the way patients interact with the health system, according to Mindi Befu, spokesperson for Barton.

Befu said, that after an extended assessment, it became clear that California’s 2030 seismic standard (a mandate requiring California hospitals to meet new structural criteria) would require Barton to build a new hospital. The current one in South Lake Tahoe has an aging infrastructure that will not meet the new requirements.

"A year-long analysis was conducted modeling the scenarios of building the hospital in both California and Nevada," said Befu. "The Nevada-based campus model would likely be completed three years faster and realize approximately $90 million in cost savings."

Barton then decided in November 2022 to move forward developing plans to build a new acute care hospital on the Stateline campus.

Even though exact plans have not been developed at this point, Barton does know they will continue to provide primary and specialty care outpatient services in both California and Nevada. There will be an expansion of the Barton Community Health Center (BCHC). Designated as a rural health clinic,
BCHC serves the growing needs of patients covered by Medi-Cal and Medicare.

The proposed plan to rebuild the hospital will be submitted to regulatory agencies in 2024 and will include a process for community input, according to Befu. After the project plan is approved, facility planning will be developed, outlining which services will be offered in each location.

Project completion is still many years out, with the earliest possible completion date in 2029.

Q & A with Mindy Befu:

What happens to the current hospital and skilled nursing? Upon completion of the Nevada hospital, the building at 2170 South Ave. will offer outpatient medical services. The project plan is still in development and will be shared for community input in 2024. During that process, plans outlining which services will be offered in which location, including the Barton Skilled Nursing Facility, will be decided.

Since so many residents are low-income, how will Medi-cal insurance work if people are seen in Nevada? The same goes with a lot of El Dorado County programs, what is the plan? Barton is committed to ensuring its California and Nevada residents have access to the health services they need. Barton will continue to have contracts in place with Medi-Cal, Medicaid, and Medicare (as well as private insurance companies) providing coverage. The dual campus model will offer outpatient services in both states. By expanding our California rural health clinic (Barton Community Health Center) and implementing a rural health clinic in Nevada, patients insured through Medi-Cal, Medicaid, and Medicare will have comprehensive
healthcare services available to them. For patients needing hospital services, Medicare, Medicaid, and Medi-Cal will continue to cover services based on medical needs (including across state lines).

Nurses are worried the California standards will go away and Barton will follow Nevada rules which eliminate the 1-5 ratio. What is the plan? Barton provides safe, high-quality care to its patients and will continue to do so regardless of which state patients receive care. Across the country, hospitals have extensive safety systems in place. Most hospitals develop nurse-to-patient ratio plans taking into consideration clinical factors such as patient acuity, hospital census (volume), and support staff—not strictly numeric ratios for each unit. Barton will continue to meet or exceed federal and state regulations through safe staffing plans. Accolades, such as the Newsweek's World’s Best Hospitals 2023 list illustrate our commitment to safety and quality for our patients. A new state-of-the-art facility will enhance quality of care through updated technology, facilities, and operational workflows.

At this time there are no drawings or renditions of what either campus will look like.