Roberto Rodriguez is Executive Director of the LAC+USC HealthCare Network, a position he has held since November 1998. Mr. Rodriguez is responsible for the largest Public Healthcare Network services component of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. With an operating budget in excess of $770 million, with 7,400 employees the Network provides over one million emergency room and outpatient visits; admits over 50,000 patients annually. In addition, the Network provides more than 28% of the trauma care in Los Angeles County; cares for 50% of the men, women, and children with stage III HIV/AIDS in the region and about 35% of the HIV/AIDS patients in the county and 50% of the Sickle Cell care in LA.
In his tenure at the LAC+USC Healthcare Network, Mr. Rodriguez has led the Network to full accreditation with Network designation and commendation with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO); the only county agency in the nation with such a designation. The Network was recently awarded the prestigious Foster Mcgaw Award for Excellence in Community Service, and the American Hospital Association Award for Outstanding Volunteer services.
In his presentation, Mr. Rodriguez will discuss these successes in leading the HealthCare Network, and the lessons they hold for public hospitals around the country as they struggle to survive in the 'managed care' era.
Learning Objectives: 1. The presenter will list and discuss the steps and approaches taken by the County of Los Angeles to assure the continued role of the public hospital as a safety-net provider, including 1115 waivers, expansion of community clinics and outreach efforts, and contracting with public and private providers to feed the public hospital in a coordinated, systematic approach
Keywords: Public Hospitals, Safety Net Providers
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.