Hospital Cancels Base Closure

Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital in Inglewood has canceled plans to shut its paramedic radio base station, confident that it will receive money from the city of Inglewood and Los Angeles County to run the station for the next three months. The station, part of a county paramedic communications network, serves three paramedic units in Inglewood, three in Los Angeles city and two in the county.

Hospital spokeswoman Mary Schnack said the county Department of Health Services will ask the Board of Supervisors to approve $9,000 a month for the service. The Inglewood City Council will be asked to provide $3,750 a month, she said. Although the money has yet to be allocated, Schnack said the hospital “in good faith” will keep operating the station. In June, Daniel Freeman announced that it would shut it down because of the $150,000 annual cost.

Inglewood Assistant City Manager Norman Cravens said he foresees no problems when the request goes to the council Tuesday. The request for county funds will to to the supervisors Oct. 24 or 31.

Schnack said that in January the hospital will begin covering base station costs with money received through Proposition 99, the voter-approved state tobacco tax measure. The base station, which receives up to 1,400 calls a month, gives directions about medical care to paramedics in the field and directs them to various hospital emergency rooms.