Imperial Valley healthcare is in crisis.
We need better options.

Thank you

The members of the Coalition would like to thank all of those who supported the mission and goals to ensure quality healthcare in the Northend. Particularly, the effort to preserve the Pioneers Memorial Hospital District. While the Coalition will discontinue operation, all of us will remain engaged individually to monitor the implementation of AB918 and fearlessly advocate for delivery of quality and stable healthcare services.

With gratitude, 

John Grass
President, IVCSHF

Your healthcare at risk

In 2024, a new law will combine the three current Imperial County healthcare districts into one. Before the year is out, an appointed board must figure out how much money it will take to run it, negotiate a merger plan that doesn’t drop the ball for existing patients, and hope that the voters approve some way to fund it. If it’s not done correctly, it could make getting care harder for everyone—particularly Imperial’s most vulnerable.

How we got here

Small hospitals and healthcare districts are struggling everywhere. El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC) is currently tens of millions of dollars in debt and closed its maternity and pediatric departments to stay afloat. Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District (HMHD) declared bankruptcy 25 years ago and provides no direct care services. Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District (PMHD) has funding via a property tax, but has staffing issues and faces expensive facility updates.

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A rushed “solution” that creates more problems

Although the California legislature acted quickly to help, the law they passed (AB 918) is critically flawed and is already negatively disrupting our County’s healthcare.

Among the many problems:

  • Sets deadlines to combine hospital districts without any idea of the work that requires
  • Gives voters one shot at approving a way to fund it
  • Dissolves the one district that does have a sustainable funding source

Worse, the appointed healthcare district board is struggling to meet AB 918’s requirements, throwing the effort into chaos.

Where we are now »