By Rosita Ventura-Gomez

The long-awaited reopening of Madera Community Hospital has rekindled hope for Madera County residents, who have faced over a year without accessible 24-hour health care.

On July 18, at least 300 people attended an informational event about the hospital’s reopening hosted by the Madera Coalition for Community Justice. At this event, Madera County residents were introduced to the American Advanced Management (AAM) team, the new owners of the hospital, to hear the latest updates and ask questions concerning the reopening of Madera Community Hospital. American Advanced Management, a Modesto-based for-profit company, dedicates its “passion for preserving and restoring care to underserved populations” by giving rural communities a second chance to access needed health care.

“It’s been a rough 18 months with us being closed, but with the support that we have today, it warms my heart to see the community come together,” said Karen Paolinelli, CEO of Madera Community Hospital, who has been working hard to reopen the hospital since its closure.

American Advanced Management’s dedication to a new and improved hospital was demonstrated with massive interior updates, including not only the lobby and hospital rooms, but also the replacement of “antique” medical equipment with up-to-date medical technology and equipment that will improve care for Madera County patients.

“We don’t want people to come to the hospital because it’s all they’ve got; we want people to go because of the hospital’s good care,” said Amy Micheli, Regional COO for American Advanced Management.

Many residents who attended the meeting were buzzing with excitement about the future of Madera County’s access to immediate healthcare. However, other residents shared their concerns about the hospital’s future longevity. As the AAM team answered questions from the public, one resident asked what the company would do to ensure that the hospital doors would not just reopen but stay open. The AAM team acknowledged this concern and stated that the new board would include Dan Garcia, Vice President at Community West Bank, to ensure that Madera Hospital will not face another bankruptcy.

“We are so grateful and thankful to the Lord and to the people that have worked so diligently to open our hospital again,” said Joyce Lane, a community resident who is not only eager for Madera Community Hospital to reopen, but to re-establish a chapel in the hospital to help future patients have a place of worship while on the road to recovery.

Currently, the 160,256 residents of Madera County lack a general hospital or 24-hour urgent care for adults, forcing many to commute 40 minutes to an hour for emergency healthcare services. While Valley Children’s Hospital remains operational, it primarily serves pediatric patients.

If everything goes according to plan, the reopening of Madera Community Hospital could be projected on October 2024.

“The goal is to have the hospital become that county staple where our community can go in and get their healthcare and urgent services,” said Linette Lomeli, Executive Director for Madera Coalition for Community Justice.