SUPERVISORS APPROVE $322 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR HARBOR-UCLA MEDICAL CENTER

 

      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

      September 9, 2009                                                                                                                     Contact:   Aurelio Rojas 213-280-6579

                                                                                                                                                                              James Bolden 213-200-5314

 

SUPERVISORS APPROVE $322 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR HARBOR-UCLA MEDICAL CENTER

 

LOS ANGELES – Supervisor Mark-Ridley Thomas today lauded his colleagues on the Board of Supervisors for approving a $322.6 million budget for the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Surgery/Emergency Capital Project.

 

   To meet a growing need exacerbated by the closure of the Martin Luther King Medical Center in 2007, the Harbor-UCLA project will expand the facility’s emergency department from 25,000 square feet to 75,000 square feet, add seven operating rooms, and nearly double its emergency room bays from 42 to 80 bays. 

 

  “This historic capital investment demonstrates yet again that our county Board of Supervisors is resolute about supporting the emergency care needs of its residents through state of the art facilities and quality care,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said during Tuesday’s Board meeting.

 

  Supervisor Ridley-Thomas praised his board colleagues for moving on the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center project, adding “this facility will add value and improve the safety net for the entire County.”

  

 On another matter, emphasizing the need to fully leverage federal stimulus money to build a new Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas directed the County’s Chief Executive Officer to report back on the County’s steps to ensure that the design of the project’s Multiservice Ambulatory Care Center is completed in time for the County to maximize federal support.  On Aug. 18, the Board approved a plan to open a new, 120-bed MLK hospital.  Under the proposal, the University of California would provide physician services. 

 

Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said it is critical that the county protect its ability to meet all deadlines to fully leverage stimulus dollars available through the American Recovery Reinvestment Act, as the County waits for the UC regents to act.

 

 “The County could qualify for roughly $145 million in ARRA funds to support the rebuild of the (MLK) Multiservice Ambulatory Care Center,” the Supervisor said. 

 

  His motion directs county officials to report back to the Board on Sept. 15 on a schedule of steps the Board must take to ensure the rebuild of the ambulatory care center fully qualifies for stimulus money.

 

#    #    #    #