At a Crossroads: What’s at Stake if Glenn Medical Center’s ER Closes

Glenn Medical Center (GMC) is the only hospital in Glenn County. For over 75 years, it has served as the heart of emergency response, inpatient care, and public health in our community. Now, that vital role is under threat.

If GMC loses its Critical Access Hospital designation, the ER and inpatient services will likely be forced to close. What remains would be outpatient clinics, basic imaging and lab work—while life-threatening emergencies, behavioral health crises, and law enforcement support are left without a local safety net.

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Public Health at Risk

Glenn County already ranks near the bottom statewide in health access and outcomes. We have:

One of the highest cancer death rates in California.
A doctor-to-patient ratio of 1 to 5,625—more than four times worse than the state average.
A growing population of seniors and residents living in poverty who often lack transportation.

Closing the ER would force residents to travel 45 minutes or more to Chico for emergency care—longer from rural towns. That delay could be deadly in cases of:

Heart attacks and strokes
Traumatic injuries
Sepsis and severe infections
Mental health and substance use crises
Pregnancy and emergent labor

Research shows hospital closures increase mortality:

15% higher death risk for heart attacks
10% higher for strokes
5% overall higher risk of death following hospital admission

Emergency Medical Services: A System on the Brink

Today, Glenn County has just a few ambulances, mostly funded by Enloe Medical Center in Chico. Thanks to recent improvements like a 12-hour ambulance based in Orland, response times across the county had improved—until now.

If the GMC ER closes:

Ambulances won’t drop patients at Willows—they’ll transport them all the way to Chico, tying up units for 3.5–4 hours per call.
This creates dangerous gaps in local 911 coverage—just one missing ambulance can leave half the county uncovered.
Enloe has already absorbed financial losses running ambulance service in Willows. Without a local hospital to drop off patients, those losses will increase, and Enloe could pull out—as it did in Colusa County.

This isn’t just theory. According to Fire Chief Monck, “Lives will be lost—it’s that simple.”

Law Enforcement Will Be Undermined

Our already stretched law enforcement agencies rely on Glenn Medical Center for quick medical clearances, which are required before booking individuals into jail.

If GMC’s ER closes:

Officers will be forced to drive detainees to Chico or Colusa, removing them from their patrol areas for hours.
This weakens public safety, especially in emergencies, domestic calls, and during periods of high call volume.
Staffing shortages, rising crime, and increased call complexity mean we can’t afford to lose more boots on the ground.

Behavioral Health: A Critical Loss of Local Crisis Response

Glenn County has:

Elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide risk.
High levels of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) that correlate with lifelong mental and physical health issues.
Limited behavioral health providers and virtually no crisis stabilization services.

In a mental health crisis, the ER is often the only place for someone to go. Without it:

5150 holds (involuntary psychiatric holds) will require long-distance transport, risking escalation or elopement during transit.
Law enforcement—not mental health professionals—will handle more crises, often without clinical support.
Patients will wait hours or days in inappropriate settings, putting further pressure on clinics, families, and first responders.

Ripple Effects Beyond Health

When a rural hospital closes:

The local economy suffers: Job losses, increased poverty, and population decline follow.
Community identity weakens: Families question staying in a town without emergency care.
New doctors and businesses are harder to recruit: Quality of life and access to care are key decision factors.
The remaining health system buckles under pressure: Clinics are overwhelmed; neighboring ERs are overcrowded.

Glenn County isn’t alone. We are nearly 30,000 strong and growing. We deserve better.

What You Can Do

We still have time—but not much.

Glenn Medical Center’s future rests with federal regulators at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). They need to hear from you—residents, business owners, first responders, and families—about what the loss of our only hospital would mean.

Send a Letter