Healthcare infrastructure within the Imperial Valley | Letter to the Editor

My name is Frank Brabec, and I am addressing you on behalf of the newly formed “Imperial Valley Coalition for Sustainable Healthcare Facilities”, (IVCSHF). 

First, on behalf of myself and the Coalition, I thank all LAFCO commissioners and staff, for your attention to this extremely important matter. Your conscientious efforts to do what is best for the greater good of all the citizens of Imperial County is to be commended.

We as the IVCSHF are a group of concerned citizens and stakeholders whose goal is to identify the best way forward to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure for all residents across Imperial County. 

Our coalition is highly focused on gaining crucial knowledge, by doing research on evidence-based outcomes. Rural health is a challenge across the entire United States, and we are connected to multiple communities taking on the same challenges that we are facing. We have been looking at programs that have been implemented in other communities and have been actively seeking input from subject matter experts across the country.

Based on our research and input from experts so far, we know that we need three main actions to be taken:

Assess Community Needs

It is imperative that we conduct a comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment, (CHNA). A CHNA identifies key health needs and issues through systematic, comprehensive data collection and analysis. It is easy to find examples of CHNAs that hospitals have conducted. For example, Kaiser has their analyses published online for all the areas where they have hospitals. This helps guide their plans and activities to best serve the needs of each unique community.

Determine the Current State of Both Hospitals

It is also imperative that a thorough Strategic Financial and Operational Analysis (SFOA) be conducted on each hospital in the Valley. This can be done concurrently with the CHNA and will give us an orientation as to what the current state of each facility is, in all aspects of their financial and operational performance.

Develop Plans and Strategies

We need to identify all issues and opportunities learned from the CHNA and SFOAs and develop solutions that are tailored to address them. Solutions need to include reasonable timelines based on the completion of tasks as well as specific financial goals, and the assignment of specific groups and individuals to tasks that coordinate to achieve the results that we all agree upon.

Recommendation 1:

We know that LAFCO has started on efforts to conduct studies, and we applaud the work initiated on this so far. It is vital that the work continues and is enhanced to the fullest extent possible, and that the work is provided for an appropriate period of public review and comment. 

Recommendation 2:

As we move through this discovery phase, we believe that it is wise to keep all options open. We recommend continuing to evaluate all possibilities related to the formation, expansion, or dissolution of any healthcare districts at this time. This includes continued assessment of the merits of the PMHD application. The correct paths to take will become apparent as we gain greater understanding of all aspects of the complex healthcare matters in Imperial County.

Our coalition will continue to share and compare findings and work collaboratively will all stakeholders. We have also started to draft work plans that can be adjusted according to the what the needs dictate, and collaborators can add.

To conclude I would like to share with you our vision and mission statements that will be guiding us through our efforts.

Vision: Empowering our community through collaborative efforts, our coalition envisions a future in the Imperial Valley where sustainable healthcare facilities thrive, ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare for all.

Mission: Our mission is to bring together passionate citizens dedicated to researching, advocating, and implementing innovative solutions for sustainable healthcare in the Imperial Valley. Through community engagement, partnerships, and informed decision-making, we strive to create a resilient healthcare infrastructure that addresses the unique needs of our diverse population, fostering a healthier and more prosperous future for generations to come.

Again, on behalf of myself and IVCSHF, I thank you for your strong work, and we commit to being of service to you and our community.

Sincerely,

Frank F. Brabec

President

Imperial Valley Coalition for Sustainable Healthcare Facilities (IVCSHF)