7 March 2019 | Mere months after Adventist Health was granted permission to start leasing bankrupted Tulare Regional Medical Center, another bankrupt California hospital is considering partnership with the system of healthcare facilities.

At their February 28 meeting, Mendocino Coast District Hospital directors listened to a presentation by Jason Wells, president of Adventist Health Ukiah and newly named chief of Adventist Health Howard Memorial Hospital in Willits. Wells told the board that although he was not pushing for affiliation, he envisioned multiple options for partnership between the hospital and Adventist Health.

The Mendocino Beacon reported that it was unclear how an affiliation between AH and MCDH would affect the local healthcare district or the authority of the board of directors.

“This is in no way ‘in the works,’” stressed Wells about the potential partnership. “It’s in no way a commitment. It’s a process to discuss.”

MCDH Board member Jessica Grinberg said that she saw three “non-negotiables” in any potential partnership with AH: continuation of reproductive services for women, maintained union representation at MCDH, and compliance with seismic retrofit work mandated by the state by 2030.

Members of the public highlighted that AH hospitals only perform abortions in life-and-death cases, warning that this policy could reduce reproductive rights and services for patients.

Adventist Health is a faith-based, nonprofit network of hospitals, clinics, home care agencies, hospice agencies and joint-venture retirement centers in both rural and urban communities, serving more than 80 communities across the western United States and Hawaii. The healthcare system is affiliated with the Adventist Church.

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