Local News in Brief : Emergency Room’s Closure Defended

Officials at White Memorial Medical Center in East Los Angeles, who have been accused by county health officials of closing their emergency room to rescue ambulances without justification, said Wednesday that they were preparing to reopen just as health officials arrived for their spot check on Jan. 26.

“We were completing a very busy period and preparing to reopen,� they said in a prepared statement.

The hospital officials acknowledged that eight beds for non-critical patients were empty when health officials arrived for the surprise visit. But they asserted that during the previous six hours the department had handled 28 patients, many of whom were in critical condition.

They said they believe the hospital has complied with county guidelines that govern temporary closure of emergency rooms, but added that they may need “clarification.�