Politics & Government

Zell Named Chair of Doctors Medical Center's Governing Board

Eric Zell took on chairmanship at March meeting.

The new Chair of the Doctors Medical Center's governing board has been named as Eric Zell, according to a news release issued by the health care district.

Zell is an elected member of the West Contra Costa Healthcare District Board of Directors, which covers communities across West County. He convened his first meeting as the new chair at the board's March 28 meeting since being elected as chair by fellow board members.

Zell "identified ensuring the sustainability of Doctors Medical Center for future generations of West County residents and providing quality patient care as his top priorities as Board Chair," according to the release.

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“DMC is the only public hospital and emergency room serving the 250,000 residents of West County, he said. "West County voters expressed their strong support for the Hospital when they overwhelming passed Measure J last November. We are actively pursuing a long-term business strategy for the Hospital to assure that the healthcare needs of our residents continue for generations to come.”

Measure J was a $47 parcel tax on property owners within the healthcare district. It comes on top of an existing $52 annual parcel tax approved by voters in 2004. The hospital is the primary emergency room facility for the region.

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The public hospital had emerged from  bankruptcy in 2008, but last year. Financial assistance from Contra Costa County and the Kaiser and John Muir medical centers have helped the hospital stay open during fiscal challenges.

Zell also is focused on the quality of care at the center, the release stated.

“West County residents deserve the best possible care that a medical establishment can provide," the release quoted Zell. "I am going to make sure that we focus on the quality of our medical services and improvements to our patient experience as key goals of my time as chair and as a Board member.”

The board is seeking re-financing of debt and exploring cost efficiencies at the 189-bed hospital to cut costs.

Zell is A life-long resident of Western Contra Costa. His father, Zell’s Sy Zell, was President of the Brookside Foundation and his mother, Beverly Zell, served as a volunteer for 25 as a candy striper and his sister, Dr. Bonnie Zell, started her medical career as a nurse at the hospital.

The medical Center used to be known as Brookside Hosptital.

Zell is the Principal of Zell & Associates, a government relations and public affairs consulting firm based in Point Richmond. He previously served as local Chief of Staff to California Assemblyman Bob Campbell.

Doctors Medical Center is a community hospital that operates the largest emergency department in Western Contra Costa County and treats more than 40,000 Emergency Department patients a year. It's the region’s only public, safety-net hospital. The faclity dates to 1954 and also must address concerns about its seismic safety.


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