In some hospitals facing nursing cuts, physicians are reluctant to back up nurses' complaints, either because they disagree or out of fear they will scare patients away from the hospital. But El Camino is an exception. Among the minority of physicians who spoke out in public is Susan Hansen, a neurologist whose husband joined the district board last year. The differences are in the little things. Camino is still an excellent hospital, but it's not as good as it used to be.
Hospital administrators disagree.
Hospital spokeswoman Arian Dasmalchi points to surveys showing that patients are as likely to refer friends to El Camino today as they were before the nursing cuts. The hospital also performed well in its accreditation review last year. Nurses are not the only group upset over developments at the hospital. Independent physicians who admit patients to the hospital are also feeling left out of the club. They contend that the hospital is using its clout to favor a small clique of physicians who will follow the Camino corporate line.