Major Gaps In Care For Children With Chronic And Terminal Illnesses Plagues Coachella Valley
While there are pediatricians and emergency room care for common childhood diseases and injuries, most patients 17 and under who require a subspecialist must travel at least an hour away.
The Desert Sun:
Parents, Healthcare Providers Agree: Pediatric Care In The Coachella Valley Is Lacking. What Is The Remedy?
Even with three hospitals and numerous urgent and specialty care facilities to serve the growing Coachella Valley population, there are major gaps in care for children with chronic and terminal illnesses. While there are pediatricians and emergency room care for common childhood diseases and injuries, most patients 17 and under who require a subspecialist – such as an oncologist, endocrinologist, pulmonologist or cardiologist – must travel at least an hour away to one of Southern California’s children’s hospitals. The trips are costly, often requiring a full day off work for parents and missed school time for the kids. Transportation can be a problem, as well. (Barkas, 4/30)
In other health care news from around the state —
Ventura County Star:
Ventura Restaurant Killing Puts Attention On Gaps In Mental Health Care
Under state law, law enforcement officers and mental health professionals can commit someone against their will for up to 72 hours if they are considered to be a danger to themselves or others or are unable to provide for their basic health or safety needs. Ventura County has 30 psychiatric beds available to such patients in a county of over 850,000 people. The rest are privately run, [John Schipper, adult division chief for Ventura County's Behavioral Health Department] said. ... Even if they do get admitted, 72 hours is not long enough to stabilize someone, said Mary Haffner, a member of the Ventura County Behavioral Health Advisory Board who pushed to get Laura’s Law adopted by the county in February 2017. (Martinez, 4/30)
Sacramento Bee:
Enjoy Lauryn Hill, Because Sacramento's Marijuana Music Festival May Not Have Marijuana
A music and marijuana festival planned for this weekend at Cal Expo may be missing the marijuana. After weeks of disagreement, officials with the city of Sacramento and organizers of the planned Cannabis Cup Central Valley still lack an agreement over whether marijuana consumption will be allowed. (Lillis, 5/1)