Privatization isn’t answer for hospital
Re “Taking King/Drew’s pulse,” editorial, Feb. 2
Regardless of the outcome of the survey by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at King/Drew Medical Center, Los Angeles County should take immediate steps to provide more effective oversight and management of not only the medical center but of the entire county healthcare system. The quality of care and future of our public hospitals have been compromised by a lack of leadership and accountability. However, privatization is not the answer.
There is another option. An independent health authority would take the oversight and control of hospitals out of the hands of the Board of Supervisors and put in place a governing board with the expertise to run a system as large as L.A. County’s.
The health authority option has proved effective in removing many bureaucratic barriers that compromise the quality of care, and it takes healthcare out of the political arena while providing public accountability.
The Times should provide the residents of Los Angeles with a more comprehensive analysis rather than promoting privatization as the answer.
LARK GALLOWAY-GILLIAM
Executive Director
Community Health Councils
Los Angeles
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
