Funding of $3 Million Granted to Prevent Closure of Catalina Island Medical Facility (Hospital)
In a significant move to maintain the island's emergency medical response system, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has secured funding to prevent the closure of Catalina Island Medical Center. The hospital, which is the only critical access hospital on the island, serves as the primary source of emergency medical care for the island's residents, workers, and over one million annual visitors.
The hospital's closure would have resulted in massive delays in treatment, risking additional injury, harm, and even death to patients. It would also have forced more helicopter evacuations of trauma patients, costing the County an estimated $14 million each year.
Last year, the hospital narrowly avoided closure due to a $2 million emergency grant from L.A. Care. This spring, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved $3 million in Measure B funds to keep the hospital operational. Now, further stability efforts include an approved allocation of a total $6 million in one-time Measure B funding over two fiscal years (2025-26 and 2026-27), dedicated to emergency services stabilization at Catalina Island Health.
Measure B is a special tax that voters approved in 2002 for the sole purpose of funding the countywide system of trauma centers, emergency medical services, and bioterrorism response.
In addition to the financial support, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) will provide technical assistance to the hospital regarding billing, reimbursement, and other administrative and operational needs related to the emergency room.
A major long-term plan involves a $220 million revamp and replacement of the existing facility, which is over 60 years old and unable to comply with the state seismic safety mandate for operation after major earthquakes. The replacement hospital will be approximately three times larger and aims to meet state standards while addressing rural hospital challenges.
Operational protocols for patient transfer and transport from Catalina Island have been reviewed and approved as part of EMS Commission discussions to maintain smooth patient handoffs and care continuity.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will also receive $5M for renovating the Avalon Cabrillo Mole Ferry Intermodal terminal, located on Santa Catalina Island, and Los Angeles County Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn has secured $1.2M for improvements at Artesia city parks, including A.J. Padelford Park and Artesia Park.
The motion also included an amendment by Supervisor Kathryn Barger directing the LA County Department of Health Services (DHS) to engage with the administration of Catalina Island Health and report back in writing within 90 days with an analysis of the hospital's emergency room operations.
The combination of emergency funding, board support, management changes, and a multi-million-dollar reconstruction plan aims to sustain and enhance Catalina Island Medical Center’s role within Los Angeles County’s emergency medical response system.
- The Los Angeles County Supervisor's decision to secure funding for Catalina Island Medical Center is part of a broader effort to maintain community news about the island's emergency medical response system.
- As the primary source of emergency medical care, the hospital's events related to closure would significantly impact health-and-wellness, potentially causing medical-conditions to worsen due to treatment delays.
- In addition to finance-related discussions, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services will provide technical assistance, focusing on billing, reimbursement, and operational needs related to the emergency room, which falls under the general-news category.
- With a $220 million renovation plan, the aims of the replacement hospital include meeting state standards, addressing rural hospital challenges in science, and ensuring compliance with seismic safety mandates in politics.
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