In The News

Building Community Support

We all know that California hospitals – including White Memorial -- are facing workforce shortages, emergency room stresses, funding cuts and other pressures. The California Hospital Association (CHA) and the Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC) have developed a public advocacy program, called Code Blue, to better educate the public about these issues.

To support this effort, White Memorial has developed and is implementing a hospital-specific public advocacy campaign in our local community. The goals are to educate community members about the financial condition of non-profit hospitals, reassure them that White Memorial is committed to serving our community, and engage audiences to become supporters of the hospital through advocacy, volunteerism or philanthropy.

A panel of volunteer speakers – which include Brian Johnston, MD, Miguel Martinez, MD, Francisco Rincon, MD, Governing Board member Gabriela Barbarena, Maria Castro, RN, and Ruth Pupo, RD – has been making presentations to key organizations in our local area.  To date members of the team have presented to the Boyle Heights and Lincoln Heights Chambers of Commerce, the Salesian Boys & Girls Club, the Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council and the East LA YMCA.

The volunteer speakers have received a warm welcome from the members of these community organizations, and opportunities for more collaboration are emerging. Upcoming organizations include the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Organization, the Boyle Heights Lions Club, the L.A. Boys and Girls Club Board, the East L.A. Chamber of Commerce, the Pastors Area Meeting (attended by local clergy) and the Boyle Heights Learning Collaborative.

“It’s important that our community understands the pressures facing their hospitals, and how they can help” said Joe Coria, community relations officer. “Community members are responding positively, and are offering their support in different ways.”

Posted 5/16/08