Willows council approves letter urging reversal of Glenn Medical Center's lost critical-access status

WILLOWS, Calif., May 19 — The Willows City Council voted 4-0 Monday to approve a letter supporting Glenn Medical Center's formal appeal after the hospital was notified in April that it may lose its Critical Access Hospital designation.

The move, made during a special council meeting, directs the mayor to sign a letter of community support and authorizes the city to provide additional assistance the hospital requests. Council member Busby moved the measure and Mayor Hudson seconded; the motion passed unanimously among the four members present.

The loss of critical-access status would affect how Glenn Medical Center is reimbursed and could lead to the closure of its emergency department, hospital officials and first-responders told the council. Lauren Still, administrator of Glenn Medical Center, told the council that the hospital received a federal notice in April that the designation would be removed and that the change "would have a tremendous impact on the hospital, including losing emergency services." She said the hospital had filed an appeal and was soliciting letters of support.

Bradley Ford, an ER staff member at Glenn Medical Center, described operational consequences if the emergency room were to close. "If that were to close, all CHP and SO would have to take those medical clearances out of county, either to Colusa or to Enloe," Ford said, referring to California Highway Patrol and the sheriff's office. He also warned that the hospital's helicopter landing zone could not be used as a hot-load site without an on-site physician and that existing targets for rapid stroke and trauma transfers would be harder to meet.

Public speakers told personal stories about care at Glenn Medical Center and the risk to residents if local emergency services disappear. Doug Ross, speaking on behalf of publisher Donna Settle, warned about evacuation and flood-response complications if local emergency care were reduced. Another resident recounted multiple family life-saving events he connected to the hospital, saying, "Every minute of my life is due to that hospital, that doctor," and urged the council to act.

Council members and the city manager said the council's action was intended to support the hospital's ongoing appeal process. The council discussed parallel advocacy already underway: hospital officials said they had pursued appeals through the offices of U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa, the state attorney general and governor, and through trade groups including the California Hospital Association and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (and other rural health associations). Still said the hospital planned a formal appeal period and asked the community to submit support letters and phone calls to elected officials.

Officials and first responders described immediate operational consequences they expect if the ER closes: Willows currently has one ambulance based in town and relies on two additional ambulances from Westside in Orland when needed. Speakers said local ambulance response times could increase from under five minutes to 20–30 minutes if resources relocate, and that some kinds of forensic/medical-clearance work and pediatric mental-health evaluations could require transfers out of county.

Council members also discussed escalation options if the appeal is unsuccessful. Council member Hanson and others encouraged more public, coordinated actions'including press conferences and countywide demonstrations'if polite advocacy does not reverse the federal decision. Still said the hospital's current plan is to pursue one more week of formal appeals and to seek a "deluge of community voices" to influence the outcome.

The council's approved motion directs the mayor to sign the letter of support and authorizes the city to provide whatever additional assistance Glenn Medical Center requests. The motion was moved by Council member Busby and seconded by Mayor Hudson and passed 4 to 0. Council member Pride was absent.

The hospital cited a February 2001 letter among its historical records supporting its critical-access designation. Hospital and county officials said the decision, if finalized, would require additional local coordination with EMS, law enforcement and neighboring hospitals to maintain time-sensitive care.