Providence workers in Humboldt County launched a community petition today calling on the Washington State-based healthcare corporation to stop slashing services on the North Coast.
Providence is the only major hospital operator in Humboldt County. Instead of recognizing its civic responsibility to provide a full range of care for everyone in the community, Providence has done nothing but slash essential services and shut down facilities.
St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka has provided care to the community since 1920. But since taking over St. Joseph Health hospitals, Providence has done nothing but eliminate services, including potentially life-saving OB/GYN care, forcing patients to go as far away as Santa Rosa for medical procedures.
Providence closed the birthing center at Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna, closed the only inpatient acute rehabilitation center in Humboldt County, and sold off its outpatient labs. As if that’s not enough, Providence is now moving to significantly reduce the availability of open heart surgery in Humboldt County.
With billions in reserves and a long history of profits in Humboldt County, Providence has no justification for these closures — just a habit of building their fortunes at the expense of patient care.
Sign the petition to tell Providence to stop gutting health care in Humboldt County:
