Section 1339 Of Article 10. Primary Health Service Hospitals From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 10.
1339
. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:
(a) In many areas, small, rural general acute care hospitals are
experiencing financial difficulties brought upon partially because of
governmental regulations and underutilization of acute care beds.
(b) Closure of such facilities, in most cases, would represent a
direct threat to the health and well-being of both the resident and
tourist populations served by these facilities.
(c) Availability and accessibility to primary and preventive
health care services could be greatly improved through coordination
with existing resources in the area.
(d) Because of the special attributes of the small, rural general
acute care hospital, such as longevity, focus of community support,
critical geographic location, and availability of services, such
facilities could serve as the major focal point for the promotion of
health and the delivery of health care services within the rural
community.
(e) There is a lack of systematic study and evaluation of the
economics of efficiently operating small rural hospitals and the ways
in which these hospitals might more effectively meet the health
needs of their communities.