Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo, Calif., will prepare to shut down in March if it is not immediately granted emergency funding, according to the East Bay Express.
Kathy White, the medical center's interim CEO, said in an email to staff that the hospital does not have enough money on hand to pay employees beyond February 28, according to the report.
The hospital, a safety net primarily serving low-income and uninsured populations in West Contra Costa County, has been dealing with a financial crisis for the last several years. Last summer, DMC scaled back functions by sending ambulances to other parts of the county to reduce the number of emergency department patients.
In her email, which was forwarded to East Bay Express, Ms. White told employees, "It remains our goal to obtain the cash allowing us to continue operations while we explore all options. Due to the advancing short time period, however, we must plan accordingly and responsibly to wind down clinical operations by Friday, Feb. 27, unless a cash infusion occurs. We don't expect anyone to work without a paycheck."
This would include closing the emergency department and placing an end date to schedule surgeries and procedures.