Hospital Workers Praise Petaluma Board for Rejecting Prime Healthcare as Preferred Bidder

Hospital Workers Praise Petaluma Board for Rejecting Prime Healthcare as Preferred Bidder

[April 28, 2016] OAKLAND, Calif. – Healthcare workers praised the Petaluma Health Care District board today for rejecting Prime Healthcare as a preferred bidder to operate Petaluma Valley Hospital.

“This decision is a victory for the Petaluma community which fought to protect our hospital and maintain patient care standards,” said Abigail Barajas, a healthcare worker at Santa Rosa Community Health Centers. “We’re glad the board heard the community’s concerns because it would have been a major mistake if Prime Healthcare was allowed to operate the hospital.”

In February 2016, healthcare workers raised doubts about Prime Healthcare as a bidder, citing the company’s history of eliminating vital services, such as maternity care, at facilities it owns in California and across the country.

Last year, Prime walked away at the last minute from the attempted purchase of the Daughters of Charity Health System rather than meet strict conditions the California Attorney General placed on the sale to protect the hospitals and surrounding communities from Prime’s history of cutting staff and services to drive up profits. In 2011, the California Attorney General rejected Prime’s attempt to buy a hospital in Victorville, Calif.

Other problems plaguing Prime in recent years include: