Paradise residents urge local emergency services, specialists as consultants gather data

Paradise Town consultants met with residents on March 4 to collect community input for a council-commissioned health-care needs study focused on emergency services, primary care access and specialty care after the loss of local hospital capacity.

The meeting, convened by ad hoc health care committee member Steve Crowder and council member Ron Lassonde, was part of an objective study the council directed staff to commission. Colette, a town staff member, told attendees the study will analyze historical and current utilization and project needs over five- to 15-year horizons: "our staff here was given direction by our council to, hire a consultant who is objective, who can go through this process to gather information from many different sources," she said.

Why it matters: community speakers described long waits at valley hospitals, frequent long ambulance or air-transport trips and gaps in services for children, maternal care and seniors. Residents said those gaps affect daily life and decisions about returning to or remaining in the area. The consultants said the study will compile those local accounts with state, regional and provider data to present an evidence-based case to potential health providers and funders.

Consultants and study scope