‘Chiller’ returns to Mission Hospital

Operations were canceled Wednesday at Mission Hospital Laguna Beach due to a climate control system that was not up to code.

A chiller, which hospital neighbors happily thought they had heard the last of when Mission took over from Adventist Health, was to be delivered Tuesday night, to be in use for no more than 90 days. A new central plant is to be installed.

Mission spokeswoman Markie Cowley made the announcement at the City Council meeting Tuesday where she and hospital administrator Michael Beck received a warm welcome despite the chilling news.

“I have never known more professional people,” Councilwoman Jane Egly said.

Tuesday was the 60th day of Mission’s takeover.

“Our top priority has been and continues to be patient care and service to the community,” Cowley said. ”We have spent about $2 million since we walked into the hospital just to take care of what is.

“We have tried to address some short-term problems such as tree trimming, unattended storage and delivery trucks in the middle of the night.

“Some maintenance had not been done the way we would do it.”

Cowley said she had spent two hours earlier that day getting a tutorial from Councilwoman Jane Egly and Assistant City Manager John Pietig on city codes that pertain to the hospital.

The climate control was not up to code, and operations had to be canceled. Stuff happens, Cowley said, but she assured the council that the city would be notified. Letters are regularly sent to residents, she said.

The staff is also working with Mayor Pro Tem Elizabeth Pearson, the former director of the defunct South Coast Medical Center Foundation, and others, to set up an advisory council.

“One of the first things we did was to determine that we needed a full-time administrator in Laguna Beach,” Cowley said, announcing Beck was the vice president of operations in Laguna Beach.

Beck did not speak at the meeting.