Madera Community Hospital in California is speeding up closure of some of its services ahead of the new year. Leaders announced all labor and delivery services were immediately ending Wednesday, Dec. 28. The emergency department will shut down Friday. The hospital stated all other services would stop on Jan. 3, as originally planned.
As the only general hospital in rural Madera County, the move is expected to trigger negative effects on residents relying on its medical care, NPR affiliate KVPR reports.
The CEO of Madera Community Hospital Karen Paolinelli announced that all operations at its emergency room, obstetrics, outpatient and surgery departments will close Jan. 3. Three rural clinics operated by the hospital will close Jan. 10.
Paolinelli announced all remaining patients at the hospital in the City of Madera will be transferred to other facilities by Jan. 17.
Earlier this month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta conditionally approved the sale of Madera Community Hospital to Trinity Health. But the deal fell through.
The CEO of Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, which is also owned by Trinity Health and would’ve operated the Madera hospital, said some of the conditions for the sale set by Bonta were to blame for canceling the plans. Read more.
