Chapman Global Medical Center Launches Emergency Services Committee

In a bid to improve health services in its coverage area in Orange County, California, Chapman Global Medical Center (CGMC) has founded an Emergency Services Committee (ESC) to help improve partnerships and collaboration with local first responders. The ESC’s inaugural meeting was held on July 21, 2023. It included representatives from CGMC, KPC Health (owner of CGMC), Orange City Fire, the Orange County Fire Authority, and Orange County Supervisor Vince Sarmiento’s Office. CGMC is a 114-bed acute care facility and community hospital that was founded in 1969.

“As a community hospital located in the heart of Orange County, Chapman Global Medical Center plays a critical role in the region’s broader health system,” said Theresa Berton, CEO and CNO of CGMC. “The Emergency Services Committee will help us strengthen and improve vital partnerships with the City, County, and first responders, which will ultimately benefit the patients we serve.”

According to CGMC Spokesperson Jeff Corless, CGMC is located near Disneyland and Chapman University. Given these high population areas along with the hospital’s own service area, ensuring effective coordination between emergency service providers is a top priority. 

“It is greatly important with all of those major venues in the nearby vicinity,” said Corless. “You must have ample emergency services capacity in the event of potential disaster such as a fire, earthquake, or other major incident.”

Working together, the ECS’ goal is to identify what additional resources Orange and surrounding communities really need to do their jobs well. “This is why the Committee includes the direct stakeholders who oversee the day-to-day operations of the 911 EMS system and paramedics,” Corless said. “But it also includes policymakers, including representatives from the Orange County Board of Supervisors, who set county policy on healthcare and the emergency services delivery system for the County of Orange. By bringing those stakeholders together, we can identify where additional needs exist, and what the priorities are. This is why it's really important to have a regular open dialogue with stakeholders on a consistent basis to make sure we're meeting the needs of the community.” 

As for the result of the ESC’s inaugural meeting? “We agreed that the Emergency Services Committee would meet regularly on a quarterly basis to address ongoing public policy issues and concerns or needs that the system has to constantly make sure we're delivering excellent care to the community as it needs it,” said Corless. “There's always opportunities to find efficiencies, but the Number One responsibility of the healthcare delivery system is to ensure that patients that need care get it quickly and get the best possible care that's available to them.”