Critical Report Sparks Health System Review
Los Angeles County’s health director has begun an “informal review” of an independent report that was highly critical of the county’s public health system. The report had charged that insufficient funding and understaffing at the county’s six hospitals and 47 health clinics resulted in “unacceptable” quality of care.
Health Director Robert Gates said Friday through a spokesman that he will “not be making any comments until this review has been completed and a report has been provided to the Board of Supervisors . . . (in) two to three weeks.”
Similarly, several county supervisors had not yet examined the 133-page report. But Supervisor Deane Dana said through a spokesman that he welcomed its release. “I’m glad the report was published so the Legislature and the governor can see the full scope of Los Angeles County’s health service needs,” Dana said. “Without help from the state, we face even bigger troubles in our health system.”
The report was prepared for the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and other groups working with the area’s poor.
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