This section defines the term 'board' specifically as the board of supervisors of a county for the purposes of this chapter.

This law allows each county's board of supervisors to set up and run a county hospital. They can make the rules for how the hospital is managed, hire necessary staff, and keep them employed as long as the board wishes. The board can also allow the hospital to join health-related organizations and use tax money to pay for membership fees.

This section explains when a member of a county hospital's medical staff, who is also a county officer, can be involved in hospital contracts without being considered to have a financial conflict of interest under California law. The officer must not participate in making the contract and must disclose their relationship to it. The decision-making body must ensure the contract is fair and authorized without the officer's input. The rule applies to certain service contracts, such as those involving medical services and insurance agreements, as long as they are no more favorable than those with other hospital staff. However, this doesn't allow prohibited individuals to serve on county boards, nor does it allow any contract banned by other laws. Contracts involving corporations the officer is associated with are treated as if they are directly with the officer.

Before a county facility in California can be closed, have its services reduced, or its management changed, the county must notify the public at least 14 days before a public hearing. Notices must include details on the changes, expected savings, and impact on people using the services.

Even if facilities close or services are reduced, the county must still ensure care for indigent people, either directly or through private contracts. These contracts must make services available to Medi-Cal and Medicare recipients.

The county must also provide a 24-hour information service for those eligible for services, a channel for complaints, and list contracted service providers in the local phone directory.

This law allows the board to arrange transportation for needy sick individuals to and from hospitals. It also permits transporting indigent individuals to other locations, provided this will stop them from being a public burden, their friends or relatives take responsibility for their care, or they are legally considered public charges in the new location.

If you live in a county or city with one million or more people in California, the local government can buy ambulances and set up a service to transport people who need urgent care to hospitals. If someone cannot afford to pay for this service, the county will cover the cost. However, if they can afford it, the person must pay back the county according to a set payment schedule, which is not less than the actual cost of transportation.

If a county hospital arranges for an ambulance to transfer a mentally unstable patient who has a history of violence, the hospital must inform the ambulance staff about the patient's condition and potential for aggression. Procedures must be in place to ensure this information is shared and recorded properly.

This law allows county boards of supervisors in California to provide medical and dental care, as well as other health services, for people who can't afford it, such as the indigent sick, the aged, and the poor. They can levy taxes to fund these services, aiming to prevent serious illness and reduce long-term public expenses. Counties are encouraged to meet these health needs promptly and effectively.

To qualify for care, a person must live in the state and county where the care is given, unless stated otherwise within this chapter. The definition of residency follows guidelines from another specific part of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

This law states that if a person or family is receiving public assistance and they move to a new county in California, the new county must provide necessary medical or hospital care to them. This is required as long as they are otherwise eligible for this care. The new county becomes responsible as soon as the old county informs them of the move. The person doesn't need to meet the usual residency requirement in the new county to receive this care.

This law outlines how the care for indigent (low-income) sick individuals or dependent poor must be managed by county boards. Generally, care cannot be outsourced to private individuals through contracts, except in special situations.

For cases that are particularly difficult, require special treatment, or involve emergency care not available at county hospitals, boards can collaborate with public or private hospitals and facilities. "Hospital service" encompasses a wide array of care, including medical, surgical, and convalescent care, along with necessary staff and equipment.

Additionally, counties have the option to contract with licensed boarding homes for children under 18 when county facilities are inadequate. They may also contract with licensed medical professionals for patient treatment when deemed necessary for coordination with other healthcare sources.

This law allows a county board to pay for emergency medical care for indigent residents who receive treatment in another state, but only if it's more affordable than transporting them to a similar facility within California.

This section allows certain counties in California to set up a 'Hospital Trust Fund' in the county treasury for deposits made by patients when they enter a county hospital. After a patient is discharged, they are entitled to a refund of any unused portion of their deposit, with the hospital keeping the rest. The business manager or a designated person from the board of supervisors approves the refund, which is then executed by the county auditor and treasurer.

If a refund isn't made within 30 days of discharge, the patient can file a claim against the county as outlined in the Government Code.

This law allows county hospital patients in California to have a special personal deposit fund set up in the county treasury for their money. Patients can ask the hospital superintendent to deposit their money into this fund. If a patient has a guardian or conservator, that person can request the money on the patient's behalf.

Patients can use this money for personal expenses while they're in the hospital. When a patient is discharged, any remaining money in their fund is returned to them. Patients or their representatives can also ask for their money back at any time before discharge, and the superintendent must arrange for its refund.

If you live in a county in California with a county hospital and you're an expectant mother who can't afford care, the county hospital must admit you. The county where you live will cover the costs of your care while you're there.

This law requires the board to hire a qualified medical graduate or graduates to care for needy or poor individuals in county hospitals and almshouses.

This law allows county boards of supervisors to create a hospital and safety commission to advise them on public health and safety related to county hospitals. The commission's powers and duties, which can include promoting workplace safety and investigating accidents, are defined by the county's ordinance.

The commission members, who cannot be elected officials, are appointed by the board, and their residency in the county is required. They may be compensated and reimbursed for travel expenses if specified in the ordinance. Meetings must be public and held within the county.

The ordinance must detail the commission's name, functions, member appointments, compensation, and expenses. Existing commissions must comply or be re-established under these rules to continue functioning.

The State Department of Health Services sets rules for record-keeping at county hospitals, including details on patient admissions and discharges. These records must be maintained according to department regulations, but a county can decide to destroy them if they follow certain conditions.

Some hospital records, like those related to payment rates for healthcare services, are kept private and not open to public disclosure for three years after a contract is signed. This privacy rule does not apply to records concerning selective provider contracts, which are governed by specific laws.

This law allows a board to set up a farm that is associated with a county hospital or almshouse. The board is also given the authority to create rules for how the farm operates.

This law states that county hospitals in California, and their medical staff, cannot impose special nonmedical requirements, like age, marital status, or number of children, on individuals seeking sterilization for contraceptive purposes. These requirements cannot be stricter than those imposed on people seeking other surgeries.

The law allows for requirements related to the physical or mental health of the individual and permits doctors to advise patients on whether sterilization is suitable. It also does not change existing laws concerning individuals under 18 years of age.

This California law allows county boards of supervisors to set up scholarship programs for nurses and other healthcare professionals, excluding physicians, to address recruitment and retention needs. The board or its designee will oversee the scholarship programs.

If a graduate works at a county-operated health facility for less than one year after getting licensed, they must repay the scholarship with interest. If they work for more than a year, the scholarship debt is canceled. The terms for repayment or cancellation are outlined by the board's rules and regulations.

Interest accrues on these scholarships from the date they are issued until they are repaid or canceled according to these conditions.

This law allows the board of directors at hospitals to hold closed sessions for hearings related to medical audits or quality assurance committee reports. However, if the hearing directly affects a medical staff member's privileges, that person can ask for the hearing to be public. Deliberations by the board about these hearings can also be closed to the public.

The law generally requires that hospital board meetings are open to the public. However, these meetings can be closed if they involve discussions about hospital trade secrets. Trade secrets are things necessary for new services or facilities that, if revealed too soon, could hurt the hospital financially.

Closed meetings can't be used to take actions or discuss plans like selling, leasing, or changing ownership of a county hospital. This ensures that major decisions are transparent and not hidden from the public.