Governor Signs $3 Million Lifeline for Doctors Medical Center

Providing a lifeline to financially strapped Doctors Medical Center (DMC) in West Contra Costa County, Saturday the Governor signed a measure by Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Senator Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) that will provide $3 million in bridge funding while longer term, more secure funding is pursued.

Related: Doctors Medical Center Execs Consider Options to Sell Hospital, Community Members Protest

“Doctors Medical Center is the safety net hospital for Richmond, San Pablo and other West Contra County communities, it’s closure would leave a community in need without emergency care, cardio, dialysis and other critical hospital services,” said Assemblymember Skinner. “The Governor’s support of this $3 million lifeline expands our window for pursuing solutions to continue to meet these critical healthcare needs.”

DMC is the only public hospital in West Contra Costa County and is in imminent danger of closing. The troubled financing of DMC caused it to be put on diversion status in August 2014—meaning that the majority of ambulances normally routed to DMC are being sent to hospitals much farther away. Close to two hundred and fifty thousand residents have lost access to life-saving emergency care, the loss of which has already been blamed for the death of at least one patient.

Currently DMC provides full hospital services and is known for its outstanding cardio unit and dialysis center. The legislation, Senate Bill 883, provides a lifeline to preserving those resources and restoring emergency room care to a large, low income community. Nearly one in three county residents living in poverty resides in the western portion of the county, and 85% of them live within a short distance of DMC.

“Residents of Richmond, San Pablo and the surrounding area can’t be expected to rely on the County hospital in Martinez, it’s far away and there’s no transit access,” said Assemblymember Skinner. “I am glad the Governor joined with us to help ensure healthcare access for the residents of West Contra Costa County.”

—Information submitted by Office of Assemblymember Nancy Skinner

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