Title
Receive a preliminary analysis report in response to Board Referral No. 2022.03 seeking to support efforts to keep the Watsonville Community Hospital open and operating through the expedited purchase of the hospital by the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive a preliminary analysis report in response to Board Referral No. 2022.03 and:
1) Direct that staff proceed with completion of referral based on description in this report; or,
2) Direct that staff:
i. Proceed with completion of referral based on modifications by the Board; or,
ii. Return to Board with a more comprehensive analysis of referral and anticipated effort for completion; or,
iii. Rescind referral.
b. Provide further direction, as appropriate.
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS:
Referral Summary & Background: Board Referral No. 2022.03 assigned on February 1, 2022 requests that the Monterey County Health Department, Natividad Medical Center and its Board of Trustees and the County Administrative Office provide their expertise and recommendations to support the Watsonville Community Hospital.
The Watsonville Community Hospital (WCH) is a primary provider of quality healthcare for residents of North Monterey County and South Santa Cruz County including the City of Watsonville. It serves a truly diverse community that includes many disadvantaged working families. Although not the total population of the proposed district, Watsonville has a population of 53,800. In north Monterey County, the communities of Pajaro and Las Lomas are home to over 6,500 individuals, with 85% or more identifying as Hispanic/Latinx. Pajaro is identified in Quartile 1 of the Healthy Places Index and Las Lomas in Quartile 3, indicating these communities have significantly greater challenges and community conditions that prevent community members from achieving greater health outcomes. WCH has 106 beds, employs more than 620 personnel a...
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