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Nurse, CHPIV commissioner Carlos Ramirez urges local coordination on hospital merger and workforce
Summary
Dr. Carlos Ramirez described his background in home health, hospice and nursing education and urged local coordination on hospital consolidation and specialty access during public comment to the Imperial County Veterans Advisory Council.
Dr. Carlos Ramirez, a nurse practitioner student and longtime health-care manager, addressed the council during public comment to describe his background and to urge coordination around hospital services and specialty care for Imperial County residents.
Why it matters: Ramirez emphasized workforce and service integration as key to expanding access to specialty care locally and reducing travel to San Diego for veterans and other residents.
What Ramirez said - Background: Ramirez said he emigrated from Mexico at 15, completed nursing education and has worked in local home health, hospice and hospital settings, including as a director for AccentCare and as a consultant to local practices. He told the council he currently serves as a commissioner for Community Health Plan in the Imperial Valley (CHPIV) and participates in CalAIM committees. - Hospital consolidation and specialty access: Ramirez said he supports consolidation of local hospitals to share specialists and resources, and argued that unified services can reduce patient transfers to San Diego. “Having the hospitals united, I think, is the way to go,” Ramirez said. He added that small community size makes coordination more practical than competitive duplication. - Workforce and education: Ramirez discussed nursing education pathways in the valley, noting Imperial Valley College (IVC) and San Diego State University-Imperial Valley offerings and that pathways are expanding to allow more RN and BSN graduates. He described bridging programs and pressure on limited nursing slots as reasons some students go elsewhere. - Local programs: Ramirez referenced a community-oriented program called Flying Doctors (free medical clinics conducted at times in El Centro and Thermal) and said he participates in veterans’ hospice programs and other volunteer activities.
Provenance: transcript excerpts - Topic intro: Ramirez introduced himself during public comment: "I'm so sorry. My name is Carlos Ramirez, president of El Centro..." (transcript segment start ~399.60) - Topic finish: Ramirez concluded remarks about hospital consolidation and community service: "But I think for our community, that that's the best thing to have." (transcript segment end ~1338.14)
Ending: Ramirez offered to help with coordination and to support education and navigation efforts; no formal action was taken in response to his comments.
