Healthcare Watchdog Salutes City of Lynwood for Opposing Sale of St. Francis Medical Center to Prime Health Care

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Our SALUD, a Los Angeles area grassroots health care watchdog coalition, today saluted the City of Lynwood for issuing Resolution Number 2014.162 which opposes the sale of St. Francis Medical Center, located in Lynwood, to Prime Health.   Our SALUD co-founders Nestor Valencia, whistleblower in the famed Bell corruption scandal, and Elba Romo former Huntington Park City Councilperson, are urging all local municipalities from downtown to the southeast Los Angeles region through the Long Beach corridor and to the south Bay to join the coalition to block the sale of St. Francis Medical Center to Prime Health Care.

"Lynwood is correct to stand up to Prime Health Care," said Nestor Valencia, co-founder of Our SALUD.    "Prime Health Care has a checkered past.   There are numerous reports from Rhode Island to California alleging Prime Health Care has a history of buying disadvantaged hospitals, laying off staff and providing inadequate patient care.  We are urging all local municipalities to stand up to Prime Health Care and ensure our communities can access the quality health care they deserve.  Prime Health Care is not that provider."

In June, Our SALUD filed a complaint against the head of the California Department of Public Health for allegedly not doing his job to protect the health and well-being of all Californians, especially the most vulnerable.   The lawsuit alleged Ron Chapman, MD, Director, California Department of Public Health has failed to protect the communities in which Prime Health Care operates and continues to allow Prime Health Care to operate without enforcement of the laws.   Prime Health Care owns 18 hospitals and health centers in California.   Prime Health Care practices are currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.

"The community has a stake in the decision in the sale of the hospital to a new provider, and we say – No to Prime Health Care," said Elba Romo.  "Our communities and the millions of lives who depend on access to quality health care throughout the region deserve better.  We must stand up and protect our local communities from Prime Health Care."

The City of Lynwood City Council in its Resolution stated that, "The City of Lynwood's ultimate goal is to support the health care system that provides the best, quality health care services and a wide range of health care programs and services to our residents and community.  The City of Lynwood formally opposes the sale by the Daughters of Charity Health Care Systems, who owns and operates St. Francis Medical Center, to Prime Health Care."

The Resolution suggests that, "Daughters of Charity not to sell St. Francis Medical Center to Prime Health Care, and carefully reconsider all available health care service providers to select a provider that will provide residents and neighboring communities' with the most outstanding, quality health care services and a wide range of health care programs that meets the community's needs."

Our SALUD has a history of fighting to correct abuses, protect patients and fight for safer, healthier communities.  The group has helped mobilize grassroots and local government support for initiatives to combat HMO abuses and environmental contamination at the local and statewide level.  

About Our SALUD
Our SALUD (Somos Aliados Latinos Unidos por la Dignidad – Latino Allies United for Dignity) is a grassroots health care watchdog coalition representing civic, community and business leaders from the Southern California Latino communities.  We believe that our low-income, minority communities deserve quality health care access equal to other communities.  We believe our communities are not unlike other communities in California which are yearning for best practices and quality health care. 

CONTACT: MARYANN MARINO
323-236-9992

SOURCE Our SALUD