HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 052-02RESOLUTION NO. 0 5 2" 0 ~
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING A FORUM FOR
CITIZENS' CONCERNS REGARDING
CLOSURE AND SHORTAGE OF EMERGENCY
ROOMS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS, the Bakersfield Heart Hospital plans to discontinue Basic Emergency
Services provided at the Hospital to the public; and
WHEREAS, there are a limited number of General Acute Care Hospitals with
emergency room facilities in metropolitan Bakersfield authorized to receive to receive
patients by private vehicle, walk-in, ambulance, physician referral and inter-facility transfer;
and
WHEREAS, according to the Kern County EMS Department the Bakersfield Heart
Hospital Emergency Department Closure will result in a significant shift of emergency
department patient care burden to other area hospital emergency departments which will
likely increase the level of emergency department overload; and
WHEREAS, according to the Kern County EMS Department there currently exists
an overload of existing emergency facilities at Metropolitan Bakersfield area hospitals; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is concerned that there is maintained an adequate
number of emergency rooms and other emergency medical facilities available in the
metropolitan Bakersfield area to serve the public; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has concerns that the public be made aware of these
issues and be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide input to those
policy makers who may influence decisions regarding the delivery of these important
community health services;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED as follows:
1. All the foregoing recitals are true and correct.
2. The City Council requests that the Kern County EMS department conduct one
or more community forums where the public may express their concerns and provide their
input regarding emergency room care and facilities in Metropolitan Bakersfield;
3. That members of the Bakersfield City Council and city staff be invited to
participate in these forums along with appropriate County EMS and other interested parties
including local hospital administrators and related health care providers.
4. That the Forum be conducted as soon as possible to address these important
community health care issues.
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I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted
by the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on ~,PR .t 0 Z00Z
by the following vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Abstain:
Absent:
Council Member Benham, Carson, Couch, Hanson, Maggard, Salvaggio, Sullivan
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
~. CiTY CLERK AND EX,OFFICIO of the
Council of the City of Bakersfield
HARVEY L. HALL ./
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
BART J. THILTGEN
City Attorney