The City of El Centro change hospital operation
The city says its decision to change how the hospital operates is based on an increase in financial issues over the last five years and issues with paying a bond worth tens of millions of dollars
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The city decided to put a new healthcare financial advisory firm in place to help run the hospital.
With that change came a new chief executive officer, Doctors Adolphe Edward replaced by a new CEO, a new chief financial officer now in place, and a new board of trustees.
"City council members are taking over... basically the board of trustees... with the addition of two... it’s going to be either two healthcare or two communities or healthcare or community compliment off... so for the total of seven board members," said Cedric Ceseña, interim city manager for the city of El Centro.
We also spoke to the mayor of El Centro.
He started seeing red flags in the finances this year and requested an audit.
It showed that some billing for medicare and medical wasn't being reported, but no word exactly how far back this goes and the mayor didn't have an exact dollar amount to share with us.
In 2018, the city and the board of trustees at the hospital approved a bond of 125 million dollars to help reconstruct the hospital but they're still paying it back.
"Right now... I don’t know that revenue source was identified or used to pay that back... and I think it’s evident that fact that they have been paying it... we are scratching our heads on how do we plan to pay it beyond where we at right now," said Tomas Oliva, Mayor of Calexico.
The mayor and interim city manager say all of these changes are to make the hospital better and that it shouldn't affect patient care.
“To the residents of Imperial county... residents of El Centro... the service is not going to skip... the service is still going to be there... there is really nothing that is going to create a gap in what you expect... so if you’re sick and you are in need of the hospital please continue to go... the staff at the hospital... i don’t want you worried about your job because you shouldn't be worried about your job... that is still going to continue,” said Mayor Oliva.
We'll keep following this story and bring you the latest details as they develop.
