Riverside County Steps In to Keep Palo Verde Hospital ER Open

Riverside County is stepping in to ensure emergency medical care remains available in the Palo Verde Valley.

On Tuesday, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $1 million loan and the creation of a county-led strike force to help the bankrupt Palo Verde Healthcare District keep its hospital emergency room open in Blythe.

County officials say the move is about more than immediate financial relief — it’s about stabilizing a critical healthcare lifeline for the region. Over the next six months, a county-led strike force will work inside Palo Verde Hospital, reviewing operations while emergency services continue for patients who have no nearby alternative for care.

Palo Verde Hospital had been on the brink of losing its emergency department after filing for Chapter 9 bankruptcy last fall and running dangerously low on cash. Closure of the ER would have left more than 20,000 residents without local emergency medical services.

The approved loan will cover essential expenses, including staff salaries, pharmaceuticals, equipment purchases, and utilities. The 180-day strike force will be made up primarily of personnel from Riverside University Health System and will focus on improving operations and long-term stability.

In the coming weeks, Riverside County and the Palo Verde Healthcare District will work together to develop a management plan aimed at further stabilizing the hospital. County leaders emphasized that the healthcare district remains independent, though a county takeover could be considered in the future if needed.

The Palo Verde Healthcare District has faced years of financial challenges. Last year, the City of Blythe provided a $330,000 loan to help keep the emergency department open.

Palo Verde Hospital is the only hospital in Blythe. Without it, nearly 20,000 residents would be forced to travel more than 70 miles for emergency medical care.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is expected to evaluate the management agreement with the Palo Verde Healthcare District in February and determine next steps shortly after. For now, the hospital’s emergency department will remain open. While other hospital departments are still closed, county officials say they hope to secure funding to reopen additional services in the future.