The closure of Santa Paula Hospital not only was an emotional blow to the River Valley it had served since 1961, but also represented a healthcare crisis for the approximately 60,000 area residents who relied on its Emergency Room. After the December 2003 closure, those seeking emergency care were more than 20 minutes away from the closest facilities.In late 2005 the deal was closed for the county to purchase the hospital campus for $2.75 million, but once possession was obtained it was found that the facility had deteriorated and much of the medical equipment was missing. The county has spent about $4.5 million on repairs, upgrades and equipment replacement.“We took the necessary time and used the best resources to assure that patients, staff and residents will be proud of their hospital,” said County Health Care Agency Director Michael Powers. “Patients at Santa Paula Hospital will receive top-notch, quality care due to its affiliation with our comprehensive system of healthcare.”“It took us a little more time than we anticipated, but the hard work that went into it shows and the hospital looks beautiful,” noted Supervisor Long. “The Santa Clara River Valley community will be proud” of the 49-bed hospital.Eventually the hospital will have a workforce of 145 full-time employees, many who were employed at the facility at the time of its closure. Services at the reopened Santa Paula Hospital - with an operating budget of $14 million annually - will include emergency, maternity, surgery, critical care, radiology and laboratory, among others.