Santa Paula Hospital's maternity ward, ICU would close in agency's proposal

The birthing and intensive care units at financially embattled Santa Paula Hospital would close later this year in a budget plan presented Tuesday by its operator, the Ventura County Health Care Agency.

The proposed closures are driven by deliveries that fell to 167 births last year, compared to 502 in 2010. The county-run hospital also struggles to keep its beds filled with an average census of about 12 patients though it is licensed for 49 beds. It is projected to lose $16 million in the fiscal year ending in June.

The planned restructuring, in which obstetrics and ICU services would be moved to the Ventura County Medical Center 15 miles away, would “bend the curve” and save $5 million next year, Health Care Agency Director Barry Zimmerman told the County Board of Supervisors.

“We can’t continue this trajectory we’re at right now,” he said. Emergency room services and other care would continue with county leaders also proposing an additional operating room at the hospital.

Board Chair Kelly Long emphasized the possible shutdowns of the birth and intensive care units are still proposals and would need to be finalized by supervisors who learned of the plan Tuesday. A vote on the budget is expected in June.

Long, who has helped lead efforts to revitalize the hospital, expressed frustrations at state funding. She called for an immediate meeting of a blue ribbon committee formed several years ago to provide input on hospital planning and also said county discussions about the birthing unit's fate would continue.

“I know my community is going to be shocked and enraged about this,” she said at Tuesday’s meeting.

The hospital serves the rural, largely Latino communities of Santa Paula, Fillmore and Piru in the Santa Clara Valley. The proposed closures would limit access to health care, especially for families without cars, said Laura Espinosa, a longtime Santa Paula resident and a member of the hospital’s blue ribbon committee.

“We understand that birth rates have fallen. That does not negate the fact that women still need quality health care,” Espinosa said, noting community leaders weren’t told about the proposal until Tuesday. “It’s dismissive and offensive that the community was not notified.”

Zimmerman said the health care agency wanted to present the plan to supervisors first and then reach out to the community. If supervisors approve the plan, the agency is required to give 90 days notice before ending maternity and intensive services, meaning the closure could happen in the fall.

No layoffs are expected. Instead, nurses and other staff would be reassigned, Zimmerman said.

The proposal is the latest twist in the small hospital’s roller coaster existence. It was once privately owned and closed in 2003 with a debt of more than $10 million. The county purchased it and reopened the hospital in 2006.

Five years ago, officials briefly closed the hospital’s birthing unit because of falling delivery numbers and financial losses. The unit was quickly reopened amid complaints and suggested solutions from the community. The low volumes have continued.

Hospitals across the state have shut down maternity units because of the falling birth rate and growing financial pressures. Earlier this month, Adventist Health Simi Valley stopped delivering babies and also closed its intensive care unit for newborns.

The proposed changes in Santa Paula have stirred anxiety about the status of county’s plans to replace the hospital with a new facility alongside Highway 126. The strategy is driven by the need to meet California earthquake standards. In the plan, citrus grower and real estate developer Limoneira would sell the land to a developer who would build a hospital and a large medical office building that would be leased by the county.

The proposal is still being analyzed and has not yet been presented to the board of supervisors. Zimmerman declined comment about whether the county will invest in the new hospital despite low patient volumes. Harold Edwards, CEO of Limoneira, said he has been reassured the new facility is still being pursued.

Even with the changes to the birthing and intensive care units, the hospital is projected to lose $11 million next year. But some types of care are increasing with use of the emergency room growing to more than 17,000 visits of year. Zimmerman said the county plans to expand services that are in demand and cited the proposed addition of an operating room.

Mary Ann Krause, a member of the hospital’s blue ribbon community, said she’s also frustrated community members were not told earlier of the plan to shut down the birthing unit and given a chance to come up with solutions.

“This is back to square one. We’re back to where we were five years ago,” she said, also expressing concern about keeping the hospital open. “It’s clear it’s going to be a continuing battle.”

At Tuesday’s board meeting, County Executive Office Sevet Johnson focused on the growing financial losses and the decreasing use of the birthing unit and other in-patient units. She said the plan to close the maternity and intensive care units provides a financially sustainable path.

“We have to make business decisions and sometimes those decisions are really, really hard,” she said.

Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com.

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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Embattled Santa Paula Hospital would lose birth unit, ICU in new plan