Riverside County Approves $1 Million Loan to Keep Palo Verde Hospital Emergency Room Open in Blythe

Riverside County is stepping in to help stabilize Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe, approving a $1 million loan and additional emergency measures aimed at keeping the facility’s emergency room open.

County supervisors unanimously approved the funding Tuesday after hospital officials warned the facility had only days of cash remaining. Palo Verde Hospital recently declared bankruptcy and was on the brink of losing its emergency department, which serves thousands of residents in the Blythe area.

NBC Palm Springs’ Alondra Campos reports the county loan will help cover staff salaries, pharmaceuticals, equipment purchases, and utilities. In addition, Riverside County is launching a 90-day strike force operation led primarily by Riverside University Health System to assess the hospital’s needs and identify additional funding sources.

Officials say the loan provides immediate breathing room but does not solve all of the hospital’s financial challenges. Over the coming weeks, Riverside County and the Palo Verde Healthcare District will work together on a new management plan designed to further stabilize operations.

County leaders emphasized the urgency of maintaining emergency services, noting Palo Verde Hospital is the only hospital in Blythe. Without it, residents would need to travel long distances for emergency care, which could delay treatment for heart attacks, strokes, and other critical conditions.

The Palo Verde Healthcare District filed for Chapter bankruptcy last fall following years of financial struggles. Earlier this month, the City of Blythe also stepped in with a loan to help keep the emergency department operating.

While county officials stressed that the Palo Verde Healthcare District remains independent, they acknowledged that a potential county takeover could be considered in the future if needed.

For now, leaders say the goal is to maintain lifesaving services while building a sustainable path forward for the hospital and the community it serves.

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