Madera Community Hospital is scheduled to close Jan. 3. Google Earth image

The impending closure of Madera Community Hospital has the local business community pondering an uncertain future.

With an affiliation agreement falling through with Saint Agnes operator Trinity Health, Madera hospital officials announced last week the hospital would file for bankruptcy and close Jan. 3 — next Tuesday.

Emergency room, delivery room, outpatient and surgery services cease Jan. 3. Rural health clinics operated by the hospital will close Jan. 10, and by Jan 17, all remaining patients at the hospital will be transferred to other facilities.

The prospect of Madera County’s population of nearly 160,000 people going without emergency hospital services is heartbreaking — especially considering the timing around the holidays, said Debi Bray, executive director of the Madera Chamber of Commerce.

“I’m just so upset,” Bray said Tuesday. “We’re just trying to rally the troops.”

Madera County has nearly 4,500 businesses with 42,366 employees earning payroll of $511.4 million, according to data from the state Employment Development Department from 2021. Nearly 13,000 are employed in the ag industry, 2,200 in mining & construction and 3,300 in manufacturing. What happens to them if they get injured on the job?

“If you have a workplace accident or some sort of emergency, it could take an hour to get to a hospital,” Bray said.

The Madera County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a special meeting Thursday at 10 a.m. — reportedly to discuss the scheduled closure and next steps.

Darren Rose, executive director of the Madera County Economic Development Commission, said efforts are afoot to avoid the worst outcome.

“We are working with the county and city officials to encourage the Attorney General, Madera Community Hospital and Trinity Health to come to an equitable and reasonable solution to keep the hospital open. The closure of Madera Community Hospital is devastating to our community and region. Access to healthcare is fundamental to the wellbeing of our residents and economy. The state and federal government should prioritize developing a solution immediately.”

Fresno County health officials weighed in on the closure last week. Facilities in Fresno would likely take existing Madera Community Hospital patients as well as new emergency patients once the hospital closes.

“Our hearts are broken by this news, but we are committed to ensuring that our community and region have access to quality medical care,” states Dr. Rais Vohra, Fresno County interim health officer. “We are here to support all of our medical partners and help them navigate this transition.”