Audra Strickland speaks with George Alger about HASC and the role and mission of the organization.
Core Role and Advocacy
Scope: HASC represents approximately 170 hospitals and health systems across Southern California (including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties).
Policy & Communication: HASC acts as a regional, state, and federal advocate, collaborating with elected officials (city councils, boards of supervisors, state/federal leaders) on healthcare policies, regulation, and local community needs.
Patient Care & Systemic Issues
Emergency Departments & Timely Access: HASC works with member hospitals to help direct patients to the proper setting (primary care, urgent care, or emergency room) to reduce wait times and ensure appropriate treatment.
Behavioral Health: A major focus is connecting individuals experiencing mental health issues or substance use disorders with timely resources.
Safety Net & Financial Navigation: Hospitals serve as essential safety nets regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. HASC member institutions assist low-income or uninsured patients through charity care and by guiding them through complex enrollment processes for public health programs.
Community Impact & Recuperative Care
Recuperative Care for Unhoused Individuals: In Ventura County, local hospitals have voluntarily funded a 12-bed recuperative care program since 2017. This program offers individuals experiencing homelessness a safe place to recover after hospital discharge, complete with medical follow-ups, meals, and connections to transitional housing.
Economic & Social Role: Strickland emphasizes that hospitals are far more than medical facilities—they are major local employers, economic drivers, public safety responders, and trusted community partners committed to long-term community resilience.
TV broadcast week beginning 08/30/26
Producer: George Alger
Sponsor: NONPROFIT FIRE, Google Ad Grants Community Building NonProfitFire.org
Sponsor: SKYWORKS MARKETING, Performance Advertising SkyworksMarketing.com