KEY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
RAPID HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT – PROPOSED CLOSURE OF ALTABATES DECEMBER 2018 - BERKELEY INSTITUTE OF URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Prepared by Mayor Jesse Arreguín and Councilmember Sophie Hahn
INTRODUCTION
• Impetus: Sutter Health, which
operates Alta Bates Hospital,
proposes to close the hospital in
2030.
• Study: The Rapid Health
Assessment study was
commissioned in 2018 by Mayor
Arreguín Office to understand
potential impacts of closure of
Berkeley’s Alta Bates Hospital, an
Acute and Emergency-Care
hospital with significant birthing,
cancer, surgery, and other care.
2 ALTA BATES HOSPITAL - OVERVIEW
KEY FINDINGS
4 IMPACTS – EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ACCESS
Increased burden on regional emergency medical services, including emergency department overcrowding and increase in ambulance diversions – Sutter Oakland already has significant emergency wait times. Increase in private vehicle travel times to Emergency Department and Hospital for West Contra Costa County patients; lengthy and difficult access for patients using public transit. Lack of coordinated disaster preparedness plan for Bay Area regional health care providers – exacerbated with closure of Alta Bates.
5 IMPACTS –VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
Decreased access to urgent & chronic care for
vulnerable populations including people of color,
unhoused individuals, people with disabilities, the
elderly, women, students, and low-income and
uninsured families
Uncertainty regarding replication of high-performing
birthing center and related maternal & newborn care
Alta Bates has over 5,000 births per year – the highest in the region
Loss of Emergency Department and in-patient care
and loss of emergency mental health & suicide
prevention services
Likely increase in Bay Area elderly population will
increase hospital care needs simultaneous with
closure of Alta Bates
Delayed or missed care for growing homeless
population
6 IMPACTS – REGIONAL ECONOMY
7 Decreased regional spending
Increased costs for local governments
As a nonprofit hospital, Alta Bates is
required to reinvest any surplus revenue
back into the community in the form of
community benefit programs.
Every dollar that a hospital earns in patient
revenue generates between $2.63 and
$2.69 in economic activity for the
surrounding region.
IMPACTS – MAJOR DISASTER EVENTS
8 IMPACTS – WEST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
9 Of 66,268 patients that visited Alta bates
Campus in 2016, approximately 18% were
from 6 zip codes in Richmond, San
Pablo, El Cerrito, and El Sobrante
(94530, 94801,94803, 94804, 94805, 94806)
39% increase in patients visiting Alta Bates
from the six zip codes above
Particularly adverse impact on African-
American populations*:
Richmond and San Pablo had the highest health
risks and death rates (particularly for African
American men) from heart disease, all cancers,
diabetes, stroke and homicides.
African Americans in Richmond had 254
asthma hospitalizations and ED visits per
10,000 people, compared to 105 for all
racial/ethnic groups.
*According to Contra Costa Health Services 2010 Community Indicators Report cited in RHIA.
CONCLUSION
• Alta Bates closure will have
devastating impacts on Berkeley
and the North/East I-80
Corridor.
• COVID experience and
excessive impacts to low-income
communities and communities of
color reinforce the importance
of access to healthcare and
hospitals.
• Continuing to convene – expect
updated report as early as May
2024
10 THANK YOU!
QUESTIONS?
11