COLTON COURIER Weekly
August 22, 2024
Vol 152, NO. 35
San Bernardino County Nurses Report 125 Unsafe Incidents in 2024 at ARMC as Result of Chronic Staffing Shortages
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PHOTO CNA/NNU
Stacey Medina, RN in the labor and delivery unit at ARMC speaking to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on August 6, 2024 during public comment.
By Manny Sandoval
R
egistered nurses working for San Bernardino County spoke out during public comment at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, August 6, voicing urgent concerns over severe patient safety issues stemming from chronic short staffing. Over the past six months, nurses at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
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(ARMC) have reported more than 125 incidents of unsafe patient care due to a lack of sufficient staff. The nurses, represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU), are demanding immediate action to address these issues, citing the county’s failure to recruit and retain nursing talent. “This is unacceptable,” said Diana Lucatero, a registered nurse in ARMC’s medical intensive care unit. “We must stand
behind our hospital’s mission statement and make the necessary changes to provide our community with a hospital that focuses on maintaining the highest standards in patient care. The safety of our patients needs to be the top priority.” Currently, more than 300 nursing positions remain vacant at ARMC, highlighting what the nurses call a crisis in care that is driving many to leave the profession. They are County Nurses, cont. next pg.
Loma Linda Man Arrested in Fatal Stabbing of Colton Resident John Vasquez By Manny Sandoval
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suspect has been arrested following the fatal attack of a Colton resident, according to the Colton Police Department. Authorities apprehended 30year-old Anthony Bedford of Loma Linda on August 17 in connection with the murder of John Vasquez, 59, who was found unresponsive in the 500 block of W. Oak Street early on August 16.
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PHOTO CNA/NNU
Nearly five dozen ARMC nurses outside of the San Bernardino County Government Center in support of a stronger contract that focuses on recruitment and retention.
Colton police officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 2:54 a.m., where Vasquez was discovered suffering from life-threatening injuries. Despite life-saving attempts by both police and Colton Fire Department personnel, Vasquez was pronounced dead at the scene. Following an investigation, Colton Police detectives identified Bedford as the primary suspect. He was located and
arrested without incident the following day in the 100 block of N. Yale Street in Hemet, California. Bedford has been charged with homicide and is being held without bail at the West Valley Detention Center, pending case review by the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation remains ongoing, and detectives are urging anyone with information to contact Detective Anthony Jaeger at (909) 3705028 or via email at ajaeger@coltonca.gov. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the We-Tip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME or online at wetip.com. This marks the latest homicide case under investigation in Colton, highlighting ongoing efforts by local law enforcement to address violent crime in the community. PHOTO COLTON PD
The 30-year-old Murderer Anthony Bedford being detained in Hemet on August 17th, 2024.