Karen S. Kim
GLENDALE -- Chief executive officers of local hospitals and Rep. Adam
Schiff (D-Glendale) have put their heads together to come up with a way
to improve child health care in Glendale and its surrounding communities.
"There's nothing worse than a family finding that one of its children
is ill and they don't have enough money for health care," Schiff said.
"We brought together some great minds in health care who run our
hospitals in the region. We wanted to find out what we can do at a
grassroots level and what we can do on a congressional level."
The group, which included Scott Reiner, chief executive officer for
Glendale Adventist Medical Center, and Arnold Schaffer, chief executive
officer for Glendale Memorial Hospital, met for the first time Friday.
Its discussion included whether children have sufficient access to health
care, what changes in law could improve the quality, affordability and
accessibility of children's health care, and how federal budgeting can
help. "We were looking for ways I can assist what they're doing on a
legislative level, and I was looking for ways that they can work with us
on a local level to improve access to health care for kids," Schiff said,
adding that enrollment efforts and outreach programs were good places to
start.
Reiner said Glendale Adventist was grateful for Schiff's help.
"We applaud his efforts and are excited to participate," he said.
Schiff said his meetings with local health care officials would be
ongoing, and future meetings will include physicians in different
health-care realms. One future meeting will include professionals who
provide health care in schools, as well as clinic workers.
"We've only begun to scratch the surface," Schiff said. "We'll be
continuing the discussion with other people on the front lines."
