Riverside County Approves Emergency Agreement to Keep Blythe Hospital ER Open

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an agreement Tuesday to temporarily manage the emergency room at Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe, aiming to preserve critical emergency medical services for residents.

The decision comes as the Blythe-area hospital continues to face serious financial challenges, which were first reported in early January. Without intervention, the hospital’s emergency services were at risk of closure.

Under the current agreement, Riverside County will oversee the hospital’s emergency room operations for approximately six months. The goal is to stabilize services while long-term funding solutions are explored. The arrangement ensures that residents will continue to have access to emergency care close to home.

The Palo Verde Health Care District also approved the agreement during a meeting Monday night. In addition, the district authorized a loan from Riverside County to help support continued ER operations during the transition period.

Supervisors thanked district leadership for working collaboratively on the plan, noting strong support from board members and local officials.

While both parties have now approved the agreement, officials have not yet announced when the temporary management plan will take effect. Further details are expected in the coming days.

County leaders say the partnership is intended to prevent service disruptions and protect public health while longer-term financial solutions are developed for the struggling facility.