The state of California has entered an agreement with Verity Health System to repurpose St. Vincent Medical Hospital as a COVID-19 treatment facility. (photo by Morgan Keith)

Gov. Gavin Newsom directed more than $42 million in emergency funding to expand California’s health care infrastructure and secure equipment and services to support the state’s response to coronavirus on Saturday, March 18.

Of the $42 million, $30 million will allow the state to lease St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles and Seton Medical Center in Daly City on a three-month basis from the owner, nonprofit Verity Health System of California. St. Vincent Medical Center, located at 2131 W. Third St., closed in January, but the state is readying the facility to begin providing care for up to 366 COVID-19 patients as soon as possible.

Newsom’s action builds on the state’s previous work, in partnership with local officials, to reopen Community Hospital in Long Beach for the specific purpose of accepting patients transferred from other hospitals in the area. The hospital began to transfer patients on Saturday and has a capacity of 158 beds.

“California is mobilizing every part of government to support our health care delivery system, its workers and those among us who are most vulnerable to COVID-19,” Newsom said.

Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, who represents the area in which St. Vincent Medical Center is located and had advocated for repurposing the facility, said there is no date or timeline yet for the hospital to open. However, he expects mobilization to occur soon, as well as an announcement about a new company that will operate the hospital.

O’Farrell said St. Vincent is a critical component of Los Angeles’ health care system.

“I am pleased that Gov. Newsom is utilizing state resources to repurpose the recently shuttered St. Vincent Medical Center into a COVID-19 treatment facility,” O’Farrell said. “I have traveled to Sacramento to meet with the governor’s office on four different occasions in recent months to advocate for repurposing the site to house those experiencing homelessness. With everything turned upside down due to the coronavirus pandemic, I can’t think of a more timely, urgent purpose for St. Vincent hospital in the 13th District.”

Verity entered two agreements with the state of California – one to give the state access to the now-closed St. Vincent Medical Center and the other to ensure COVID-19 patients will be treated at Seton Medical Center in the Bay Area.

Under the agreement, which was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, it will allow for the state to lease St. Vincent Medical Center to determine its best use to help address COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, according to a statement by Verity.

“We are pleased to be able to partner with the state of California to address this pressing public health need,” said Rich Adcock, CEO of Verity.

O’Farrell said Newsom’s effort is commendable and will have a positive impact on the community, though he noted that St. Vincent Medical Center’s closure had affected hundreds of staff members who lost their jobs during Verity’s bankruptcy proceeding.

“I hope that some of those that lost their jobs will be considered when they begin staffing up the hospital again,” O’Farrell said. “This new use of this facility will save lives.”