Blythe Hospital on Brink of Collapse [Opinion]
The future of healthcare in eastern Riverside County is at a crossroads — and the impact could soon be felt in the Coachella Valley. The Palo Verde Healthcare District (PVHD), which operates the Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe, is on the brink of collapse. Inpatient and surgical services have been suspended since May, cash reserves are nearly depleted, and on September 22 PVHD leadership signaled its intent to file for bankruptcy.
Steve Sanchez — a La Quinta City Councilman and one of only two city councilmembers countywide serving on the seven-member Riverside County LAFCO — says the situation demands urgent attention. While Sanchez represents all Riverside County as a LAFCO Commissioner, he also brings a local Coachella Valley perspective as the only commissioner from this side of the county.
This is one of the most serious matters Riverside County LAFCO has faced in recent years. The decisions we make will affect not just Blythe, but the entire region’s healthcare system for decades to come…