RNs to Join LA Supervisors Call for Action on Closure Threat
Blast MemorialCare for Secret Moves to Ensure Hospital Shutdown

Community Hospital Long Beach Registered Nurses will be on hand Tuesday afternoon at the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors to encourage support for a resolution by Supervisor Janice Hahn calling for stepped up public action on the threatened closure of Community Hospital Long Beach.

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, which represents CHLB RNs, also announced its support for AB 2591, a bill by Assembly Member Patrick O’Donnell of Long Beach to extend the deadline for seismic upgrade of the hospital for a full seven years.

CNA contends that MemorialCare, which operates the hospital, is pushing the closure for other non-seismic related business goals, and seeking to circumvent growing public opposition by taking steps to hasten the shutdown, including placing the Emergency Room on diversion prematurely in likely violation of state law on closure notice.

The Board meeting begins at 1 p.m. at the Hall of Administration, 500 W. Temple St.

Supervisor Hahn’s proposed resolution would also endorse AB 2591 and direct Los Angeles County’s Health Services and County Counsel offices to monitor whether MemorialCare is in compliance with public notice requirements on its effort to shut down CHLB.

The resolution would also direct the Emergency Medical Services Commission to hold a required public hearing on the closure before April 13 in Long Beach.

Late Friday, and without public warning, MemorialCare ordered the sudden closure of general medical surgical care unit, and removal of all medical equipment in that unit, as part of an escalating effort to make the shutdown a fait accompli even as public officials are stepping up scrutiny and opposition to the closure.

Supervisor Hahn’s resolution notes that CHLB provides “specialized services through its Sexual Assault Response Team and psychiatric services” that in addition to the loss of ER and general acute care Services “would leave a gaping hole in the community’s healthcare should they be taken away.”

CNA is joining with other community residents and leaders to demand MemorialCare:

• Stop the diversion of ALS patients immediately
• Cease all aggressive moves towards immediate closure and operate within the law.
• Restore the capacity for CHLB to operate as a full service hospital.
• Support a public hearing on the future of CHLB
• Keep the promises LBMMC made to the Long Beach community.