Today, the Riverside County LAFCO Commission voted to accept a comprehensive study of the Palo Verde Hospital and take action to initiate the process of dissolution of the Palo Verde Healthcare District while thinking through the roles of Riverside County and other entities as possible successor agencies to oversee the hospital.

The move, offered by Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, represents the continued leadership of the county to assist the community of Blythe through their most difficult challenges.

“I am happy about the next steps for the Palo Verde Hospital,” said Supervisor Perez. “While we are working through the issue of jurisdiction, with Palo Verde Healthcare District overseeing this hospital, I believe this effort will take collaboration between all healthcare stakeholders in the 4th District and beyond along with thoughtful, thorough and thought-provoking decisions that will be tough choices for everyone. The direction we provided today requires that folks must come together with a sense of urgency for action. All engaged must decide what they are willing to give and receive and do what Vice Chair Johnny Rodriguez has said from day one: for the benefit and healthy well-being of the people of Blythe.”

The Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission held a public hearing on a Municipal Service Review for the Palo Verde Healthcare District. The review was done under special circumstances of the hospital crisis, with a request in June by Supervisor Perez to expedite it.

The review underscored the severe situation of Blythe’s hospital, which has suspended all surgical services, inpatient admittance for medical issues and childbirth delivery services since May. The closest hospitals for these services are 100 miles away. Despite cutting the services, the Palo Verde Healthcare District is unable to sustain cash flow to meet a level of service delivery that is highly necessary for public health issues of a critical and non-critical nature.

The LAFCO staff presented nine options to move towards the goal of a fully restored and operational hospital with financial sustainability for the long-term. The options identified a need for funding that is sufficient for one year in order to restore the services.

In his motion, Supervisor Perez asked that the action items being taken be put into a letter to the State of California to demonstrate the partnership of all entities working on this treatment plan to bolster the request for state funding to help the hospital out of its revenue issue.

The next LAFCO meeting, which will include information on the process of dissolving the Palo Verde Healthcare District, will be held October 16.