A labor dispute that threatened Community Regional Medical Center’s level 1 trauma status and impacted patient care for about two weeks is temporarily resolved.

The issue came to a head when CRMC’s contract with Central California Faculty Medical Group covering 28 physicians in 12 specialties ended Aug. 31.

Six of these physicians are UCSF faculty providing the 24-hour neurosurgical trauma coverage required for the level 1 trauma designation.

At least two neurotrauma patients had to be transported to Bay Area hospitals to receive care amid a dispute with the hospital’s physician provider.

Now, a short-term agreement will give both sides more time to come up with something more long term.

CMC & CCFMG Joint Statement

In an announcement Tuesday morning, both sides issued a joint statement.

“Community Medical Centers and Central California Faculty Medical Group (CCFMG) agree wholeheartedly that putting patients first is, and always will be, the right thing to do. Having that common ground is the foundation and motivation for working toward restoring our partnership. We have a short-term agreement in place that will give both parties more time to work through the finer details of a long-term agreement. In the meantime, CCFMG will resume neurosurgery call coverage to support Community Regional Medical Center’s Level 1 Trauma Center.”

“Strong, long-term physician and hospital partnerships are critical to our mission and responsibility to our community. We will continue to work together with transparency and in good faith on a renewed partnership and remain committed to training the next generation of talented physicians and providing essential healthcare to Valley residents.”

Level 1 Trauma Center Status

CRMC came within a day of losing its status as a level 1 trauma center last week. Fresno County EMS director Daniel Lynch had given the hospital until 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11 to restore 24-hour neurosurgical coverage or he’d be forced to remove the premiere designation.

Last Thursday, two out-of-region neurosurgeons were prepared to take over the 24-hour call and allowed the hospital to continue into the weekend with the prestigious trauma designation intact.