Hospital’s Closure Prompts Community Concerns

Nearly 40 percent of hospital’s patients are Black Americans, and 63 percent are over 60

By By Dan Hounsell


Many of the nation’s healthcare systems have been pushed to their limits over the last year as they struggled to remain financially strong while working through the COVID-19 pandemic. While the pandemic has made operations tougher for many systems, the business of healthcare has never been easy.

Consider the case of Olympia Medical Center in Los Angeles, which opened in 1947 and is slated to close this week, according to The Los Angeles Times. The pending closure of the facility — which housed an emergency department and six intensive care beds, among other services — has prompted concern for myriad reasons: Nearly 40 percent of the hospital’s patients are Black Americans, 63 percent are over 60, and 90 percent are covered by Medicare and Medi-Cal.

The hospital’s operator, Alecto Healthcare Services, caught the community by surprise with Olympia’s abrupt sale to UCLA Health. Some critics questioned why the company received more than $25 million in COVID-19 relief funds at a time it was planning to close the hospital. An Alecto representative said the decision to sell predated the pandemic. Public policy experts said it’s business as usual in the world of healthcare.



March 31, 2021


Topic Area: Maintenance and Operations


Recent Posts

Designing for Dignity: Supporting the Needs of An Aging Population

By recognizing that each aging adult is unique, designers and healthcare facilities managers can reimagine the way care spaces are designed.


Encompass Health and BSA Announce Joint Venture for Amarillo Hospital

The hospital is expected to open in late 2025.


Healthy Buildings, Healthy Futures: IWBI and Georgetown Convene Policy Leaders in D.C.

The second annual Healthy Building Policy Summit unites stakeholders to advance policies that make every building a catalyst for well-being, resilience and thriving communities.


California Bill Could Shift Workers' Comp Burden for Hospitals

SB 632 would presume more than half of hospital injury claims are job-related, raising cost, staffing and liability concerns for facilities leaders.


Sturdy Health Announces Emergency Department Expansion and Modernization

The first floor emergency department will be 38,000 square feet.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.