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Letters: Code Blue

Submit your concerns about Madera Community Hospital to: letters@maderatribune.net and The Madera Tribune will publish them (500 words or less).

 

In medical terminology, Code Blue means a patient is under cardiac arrest and needs resuscitation. The Code Blue patient needs proper emergency medical staff.


On Jan. 3, 2023, Madera Community Hospital fell into a code blue, with the closure of our community hospital and the filing of chapter 11 bankruptcy. Madera has been in mourning ever since that day, wondering where we go from here.


What do we do in case of an emergency in our homes or our schools? What happens when there are accidents, heart attacks or strokes?


Months ago, we were aware that Madera Community Hospital and Saint Agnes Hospital would become affiliated through Trinity Health, which operates Saint Agnes Hospital. Just before the contract was all set to be signed by both parties, the California State Attorney General, Rob Bonta, made some last minute conditions, which caused Trinity to back out of the agreement.


So, here we are, a city without a hospital. Madera is growing in population with over 150,000 people in Madera County. Try telling an expectant mother to take a drive of 30 to 40 minutes to the nearest hospital to give birth to her child. If you have a heart attack or a stroke, call 911 and pray. Children often get into mischief or do something that needs an emergency room hospital visit. Fortunately, we still have Pistoresi Ambulance services with paramedics, and for that I am grateful.


The hospital closure is shameful! We deserve better! The costs of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with Medi Cal low reimbursement rates made the perfect storm for the critical nature of Madera Community Hospital’s finances. The hospital was unable to recover.


I hope my fellow Maderans will rise up and voice their concerns on this matter. We must not give up or let our government sweep this tragedy under the rug. Madera will not accept this. We deserve to have a hospital. Madera needs a hospital. Our lives matter; our loved ones’ lives matter.


It will take time and about $55 Million dollars to get the hospital up and running, as stated at the Board of Supervisors emergency public meeting back in December 2022.


Please take some time and write a Letter to The Editor at The Madera Tribune newspaper. The email address is letters@maderatribune.net or drop by or mail it off to The Madera Tribune, 2591 Mitchell Court, Suite 107, Madera, CA 93637. The Tribune will publish your letter on the closure of Madera Community Hospital, and will send your letters to Sacramento to the appropriate legislators.


Also, call your representatives:


Senator Anna Caballero at 916-651-4014 or the Merced office at 209-726-5495.


Assembly-Woman Esmeralda Soria at 916-319-2027 or the Merced office at 209-726-5465.


Congressman John Duarte at the DC Office at 202-225-1947.


Governor Gavin Newsom at 916-445-2841.


This cataclysm is not, nor should be, a political issue. It’s about doing the right thing for the people, no matter how much the cost. I am confident that our City of Madera leadership, along with our Representatives, will find a way to resolve this dilemma soon.


Please don’t give in and don’t give up.


— Corrie Valdez,


Madera

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