The Palo Verde Hospital emergency department has access to 26 emergency medicine residency trained physicians Saturday thanks to a new partnership.
The hospital, located in Blythe, expanded their emergency department physician coverage through a partnership with Vituity, a physician group serving the Riverside University Health System.
Vituity began providing emergency medicine services at the hospital on May 1 and supports 24/7 emergency department operations in collaboration with hospital staff.
Palo Verde Hospital is a rural, critical-access hospital delivering care to residents of the Palo Verde Valley and stabilizing and expediting transfers when a higher level of care is needed.
“We recognize that hospitals are critical to the vibrancy and success of any community. When people have emergencies, they need to see a doctor and time matters,” said Dr. Michael Mesisca, interim medical director at Palo Verde Hospital and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at RUHS Medical Center and Clinics. “We had physicians commit to coming to Palo Verde Hospital. They all share a belief in the standard we set of compassionate care and listening to nursing staff.”
In the weeks since the transition, hospital staff have observed measurable improvements in wait times and overall patient experience in the emergency department, hospital officials announced.
“Access to emergency medical care is not optional for rural communities like the Palo Verde Valley,” said Riverside County Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “This partnership strengthens the hospital’s ability to provide timely, high-quality emergency services close to home and reflects the commitment of everyone working to stabilize and support Palo Verde Hospital for the long term.”
Palo Verde Hospital is operating under a 180-day Management Services Agreement between the Palo Verde Healthcare District and the County of Riverside, approved by the District Board of Directors that establishes temporary operational support from the Riverside University Health System-Medical Center and Clinics for the hospital’s emergency department, the clinic and all supporting departments.
The agreement with Vituity is effective through June 30, 2027.