WHEN: Thursday, June 19, Noon
WHERE: San Mateo Medical Center, 222 W 39th Ave, San Mateo (Loading Dock)
SAN MATEO – County workers will stand with community members at a noontime rally today against devastating cuts that will cripple vital services residents depend on. The public display of opposition is being held at the San Mateo County hospital, the very site where the county plans to eliminate 19 positions and outsource transportation services.
Because silence is too often mistaken for approval, this very noisy rally is meant to amplify the community's vocal disapproval of looming state and county cuts that will leave children uninsured, adults without preventive care, and San Mateo Medical Center workers without jobs.
At a press event last week in Redwood City, we highlighted how the governor's cuts -- combined with the choices that local county officials make -- will drastically reduce the county's ability to provide quality services for the community. Today, the focus will be the county hospital, an area being hit the hardest with cuts.
San Mateo County hospital is a health care safety net for residents; it is where many Medi-Cal recipients and the uninsured receive care. The compounding effect of a county-wide hiring freeze, a hospital vacancy rate of over 100 positions, and the elimination of positions jeopardizes the safety of the staff and results in lower-quality care.
"Do you know how long the wait time is going to be at the hospital, just to get your blood drawn?" said Louise Alioto-Perez, a hospital unit coordinator at the county hospital emergency room. "It's just very sad when you can't provide services to people in our community."
San Mateo County's budget director boasts a "healthy" reserve projected at $209.3 million. But to save $240,000, the county would turn to an outside contractor to transport patients, something county workers have done for years while treating clients with great care.
Clients like Donna Jo Madick, who is diabetic and relies on the hospital's transportation service to deliver her, and her scooter wheelchair, safely to doctor’s visits about twice a month.
"They need to have someone who knows the people. Some of us can walk, some have canes, and some are so bad, they can hardly move. Larry is so good with them all," said Madick, referring to one of her favorite regular drivers. "He's so nice to little old ladies, and I’m 75."
The local crisis is further worsened by the governor’s attempt at health care reform by discontinuing medical services for adults and adding more paperwork to Medi-Cal enrollment that would result in the loss of health coverage for thousands of Californians. This is a problem for the county, the last stop for care for the uninsured.
These proposals are all being considered at the very time the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors contemplates cuts at the Medical Center. The board of supervisors will hold budget hearings beginning June 23.