GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – The escalating healthcare crisis across the nation is increasingly evident, particularly as vital facilities such as the Advanced Imaging Center in Yuba City, the Immediate Care Center in Chico, and the surgical services at Orchard Hospital cease operations.

The primary reason for these closures can be attributed to the growing discrepancy between the escalating operational costs in the healthcare sector and the reimbursement rates provided by Medicare, Medi-CAL and private insurance companies, not to mention providing free care to patients without any form of insurance. For instance, in certain situations, local hospitals receive a mere 6% reimbursement on their expenses from Medi-CAL.

Moreover, we in Butte County live in the third poorest county in California and the multiple health concerns of our residents reflect the impact of that economic position. Access to health care is a constant struggle, especially since Butte County lost Adventist-Feather River Hospital in Paradise due to the 2018 Camp Fire devastation. Trying to get a primary care physician locally is almost an impossible search, with recent media reports identifying the ratio of 1 primary care physician available per one thousand residents in Butte County.

Locally, the Orchard Hospital Foundation’s purpose and mission is to raise funds and friends to help support Orchard Hospital. Over the Foundation’s 12 years of existence, almost one million dollars have been donated to the Foundation from our community members to support the hospital. Medical equipment, supplies, and scholarships, such as a state-of-the-art mammography machine, a van for the Senior Solutions Program, 30 state-of-the-art IV pumps, the new entry to the hospital critical services area, and $10,000 in staff development scholarships for members to strengthen their skills have been provided. These are a few of the improvements you as hospital Foundation supporters have helped make happen.

To keep health care viable in our area, we on the Foundation urge you to donate locally to ensure access to care at Orchard Hospital is available for our community members. Not everyone can physically and financially travel to the Bay Area for care, so it is important that we are a presence in the health care continuum for local residents. The Foundation, together with Orchard Hospital, is also in the process of lobbying federal, state, and local politicians to make them aware of how much our small, rural hospitals are struggling and seek out financial help.

The Foundation is planning several fundraisers this year which we ask community members to support: a golf tournament, a sporting clay event, a No-Show Gala, Giving Tuesday, and the Annual Appeal. Inclusions of the Hospital Foundation in wills, stock donations, and insurance gifts are most welcome and needed.

New Foundation members this year include Chris McIntire, Emma Ceballos, Kathy King, Jason Piazza, and Pedro Mota. They join Margaret Hughes, Heather Payne, Juan Solis, Dale Leishmann, Gabri Neves, and Marianne Lombardi to make up the all-volunteer Foundation Board.

Over the past several years, Friends of the Foundation, from the Knights of Columbus, Lions, and Rotary Clubs have assisted at Foundation events like the annual golf tournament; their assistance is so much appreciated. As ever, the generosity of our community members is golden! The Orchard Hospital Foundation Board thanks you in advance for your much needed support.