Antelope Valley Hospital Becomes 7th to Pull Out of Trauma-Care Network
Antelope Valley Hospital Medical Center in Lancaster on Thursday became the seventh hospital to formally withdraw from the beleaguered Los Angeles County trauma-care network.
Citing a lack of funds for indigent patients and a low reimbursement rate from the county for trauma care, the hospital allowed its contract with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services to expire Thursday.
The hospital had signaled its intention to withdraw from the network Oct. 30.
The trauma network was established four years ago in order to provide high-tech emergency facilities where specialists are available around the clock to treat victims of serious accidents and crimes. A key feature was enlisting enough participating hospitals so that patients were never more than 20 minutes away from a trauma center.
Withdrawal of the Antelope Valley hospital from the network means that northern Los Angeles County and parts of Kern and Inyo counties are without trauma-care service, although the hospital’s emergency room will continue to operate.
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