Supervisor V. Manuel Perez has called for an expedited review of the financial health of Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe, seeking solutions to address its urgent fiscal challenges. The Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) will discuss the findings of the Municipal Service Review of the Palo Verde Healthcare District at an upcoming meeting. The full report is available on the LAFCO website at https://lafco.org/meeting-information.
Supervisor Perez, who serves as one of Riverside County’s representatives on LAFCO, emphasized the importance of this issue for Blythe residents. “I have made this a priority because it’s about the people of Blythe,” said Supervisor Perez. “A closure of the Palo Verde Hospital would be devastating for the Blythe community. I have met with leaders throughout the 4th District including local council members such as Johnny Rodriguez and Joseph Halby to mobilize immediate actions on the potential closure of the Blythe hospital. We have also brought together our county team to make sure the community of Blythe is supported. Urgency has been our course of action. With this expedited review, the goal is to have action items that demonstrate the sense of urgency needed to finalize an agreement between the leaders.”
Blythe Vice Mayor Johnny Rodriguez expressed his gratitude for swift action by Supervisor Perez and LAFCO: “I appreciate Supervisor Perez and LAFCO for moving swiftly to evaluate the situation and explore governance models that can ensure our hospital’s long-term survival. This review is an opportunity to take evidence-based steps to safeguard emergency services and build a more sustainable health system for our community.”
Supervisor V. Manuel Perez represents Riverside County’s Fourth Supervisorial District, which covers eastern parts of Riverside County including Whitewater, Coachella Valley, Salton Sea area, Idyllwild, and eastward toward Blythe along with communities near Colorado River.
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