Riverside County releases proposal to keep the Blythe area’s only hospital open
BLYTHE, Calif. (KESQ) - Riverside County has released a proposal to keep the Blythe area's only hospital open.
County officials proposed a plan that would assemble a stakeholder “strike force” led by the County to independently stabilize and manage only the Palo Verde Hospital's emergency department for approximately six months, assess current conditions, and make recommendations for next steps. This could begin as soon as feasible.
In the meantime, the county would provide a $1 million loan to the hospital's emergency department until such time as the District agrees to the proposal related to the County-led independent strike force.
Statement from Supervisor Manuel Perez:
“I am thankful for the support of my colleagues to assist the people of the Palo Verde community who desperately need access to emergency medical care. I am proud of the Board of Supervisors, County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen, and our County teams for their unwavering dedication to meet the safety net needs of our residents. I look forward to hearing the response from the Palo Verde Healthcare District.”
The county is awaiting feedback from Palo Verde Healthcare District, officials said. If they agree in principle, county officials will be discussing the many details necessary to achieve this outcome.
The hospital serves Blythe and its surrounding areas, and is more than 90 miles from the next nearest hospital in the Coachella Valley.
Palo Verde Hospital has been on the verge of closing since November after months of financial mismanagement. Officials said the hospital has been running on fumes with just an emergency room and radiology department open.
Last week, the Palo Verde Healthcare District board requested $2 million from the county to stay afloat. The hospital bought itself another week after accepting a $330K bridge gap loan from the city of Blythe to cover the hospital's payroll expenses for a week.
The Palo Verde Healthcare District filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in September.
County officials encourage Blythe residents to call 9-1-1 regardless of the hospital’s status during emergencies to reach a dispatcher. Pre-hospital care is still available and will remain operational.
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