St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard may close for 10 days as soon as August 14 to fight an ongoing mold problem, according to a notification sent to the California Department of Health Services.The notice, sent earlier this month, says the hospital is considering tenting its facility to eliminate the mold in a process that would halt all patient services at the Rose Avenue campus.

Operations would begin to phase down before the close date. An emergency room that treated about 45,000 people last year would shut down as soon as Aug. 8.

The hospital's off-site therapy services would not be impacted.

A final decision has not yet been made on whether or not to close temporarily, according to the notice. That decision is expected on May 15.

The 265-bed hospital is arguably the busiest in Ventura County, caring for and discharging for more than 17,000 patients last year. It has battled a mold problem since the Rose Avenue campus opened in 1992.

Workers are currently battling the mold by closing down a group of patient rooms, taking down wallboard and removing any contaminants.

"That process has been time-consuming and would likely continue to disrupt hospital operations for years to come," Murray said in his letter to the state, suggesting tenting the hospital would allow the mold problem to be addressed once and for all.

If the hospital closes temporarily, Murray has said, staff will work closely with other hospitals to make sure patients get the care they need.

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/may/07/no-headline---nxxfcmold08/