Schiff Secures Funding in Appropriations Bill for Local Hospitals
Washington, DC– Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill includes $350,000 for the Rapid Cardiac Diagnostic Project at Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center and $435,000 for the AHMC Health Foundation’s Mobile Health Screening Program.
“Funding for these projects will help us meet the health needs of our communities by expanding access to care and improving the treatment that patients receive,” Rep. Schiff said. “The bill still has several more legislative hurdles to clear, but inclusion of the funding in the measure is a very positive step.”
More than 30 percent of inpatients at Glendale Memorial are admitted because of heart disease. The Glendale Rapid Cardiac Diagnostic Project will upgrade Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center with state-of-the-art hardware and software, enhancing the Heart Center’s ability to provide timely and proper identification of the cause of chest pain. It will also allow the hospital to provide a higher level of service through enhanced diagnostic imaging capabilities.
“At Glendale Memorial Hospital, we’re committed to providing the most comprehensive heart services for the community,” said Mark A. Meyers, president of Glendale Memorial Hospital. “This funding is very important to ensuring our community has the access to the highest quality of heart care services, and we appreciate Congressman Schiff’s support. With chest pain, every minute matters. By diagnosing chest pain at an early stage, it can be treated more effectively and improve quality of life for the members of our community.”
The AHMC Health Foundation will use the funding to acquire a mobile health van and the equipment necessary to provide no-cost health screenings, immunizations and health education to individuals who have limited language skills, are uninsured or underinsured, or lack transportation. The program's emphasis on early detection and preventative care will help to reduce the country's raising health care costs, while also reducing disease mortality and morbidity from heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and hepatitis. It will also increase community awareness of health risk factors. Further, it will provide easy access to free screening and immunization services and provide continuity of care. The geographical area served by the program will include mainly the western San Gabriel Valley region including the cities of San Gabriel, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Rosemead, Temple City, El Monte, South El Monte, El Sereno, Montebello, and Pasadena.
“The Mobile Health Screening Van, once put into service, will enable AHMC Health Foundation to greatly expand its existing community health screening program and provide free health screening services in locations that are easily accessible by the community,” said AHMC Health Foundation President Phil Cohen. “We are very grateful that Rep. Schiff is advocating accessible health care services for the residents of San Gabriel Valley, especially for new Asian and Latino immigrants who are the most vulnerable.”