The planned reopening of Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital in South Los Angeles has yet to encounter any road bumps, University of California Office of the President officials told the UC Board of Regents Wednesday.
The update was a bright spot in a day overshadowed by stalled state budget talks and continued funding shortfalls for UC.
Members of the newly appointed board of directors convened recently to start putting the hospital on track to reopen in 2013. Board members were chosen for a wide range of medical, legal and management expertise, as well as for a passion for serving the community.
At the first meeting, the seven-member board reviewed a business plan for the hospital, said John Stobo, the UC senior vice president of health sciences and services.
In addition, a bill guaranteeing Medi-Cal funding for the new hospital has reached the desk of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The bill is expected to receive a signature.
“There is a lot to do between now and 2013,” Stobo told the regents. “But things are going on schedule.”
Sticking with the schedule, Stobo said the plans for the construction of the hospital have already been designed.
UC entered into a partnership with Los Angeles County in November 2009 to create a nonprofit organization to run the new hospital, which will serve a region of Los Angeles with a high population of Medi-Cal and uninsured patients.
The new board has not yet reached the hiring phase, but hospital staff will be contracted by the UC. The board will also be given a clean slate on bargaining agreements, Stobo said.
“We are starting fresh, anew with appointments of staff,” Stobo said.
Regent Odessa Johnson raised the issue of public relations for the hospital and the importance of reconstructing an image tarnished by past mismanagement, which led to the first Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital being shut down in 2007 after it failed to meet minimum healthcare standards.
In response, Regent Sherry Lansing said the diversity and experience of the new board is the first step.
“That’s the public relations ““ (the board is) so distinguished, with a great skill set,” Lansing said.