Alameda County Medical Center Approves $391.7M Budget
The Alameda County Medical Center board Monday approved a $391.7 million budget for the 2001-02 fiscal year, the Oakland Tribune reports. The center faced a deficit of $2.4 million, but received some financial help from county supervisors after agreeing to draft a balanced budget. The center continues to face an "ongoing" $9 million shortfall in future years, and board President Melinda Paras said board members are "deeply concerned [the center's] reserve is not sufficient to cover an institution of this size." The "biggest drain" on the center, which operates three hospitals and five clinics, is a neuro-respiratory unit in San Leandro that costs $1.9 million to operate. The center hopes to close the unit, but must first find room for the patients currently using the facility (Horowitz, Oakland Tribune, 6/27).
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