洛杉磯歷史最久醫院入不敷出悄然關閉
The oldest hospital in Los Angeles and a major pillar in the city's large Chinese community has shut its doors after 157 years.
The Pacific Alliance Medical Center -- better known in the city as French Hospital -- closed down with little notice or ceremony, leaving its clientele of newly arrived Asian immigrants and elderly Chinese stunned and saddened.
According to The Los Angeles Times, the hospital has been losing money and cannot afford the $100 million in earthquake renovations required by California state law.
The hospital began treating patients in 1860 and was called the French Hospital because the majority of its patients were French.
As the 19th century moved into the 20th, newly-arrived Chinese immigrants settled in the neighborhood around the hospital and the area soon became known as Chinatown.
French Hospital grew into an indispensable part of Chinatown, serving generations of families. The cafeteria featured an Asian menu and the hospital sponsored youth sports teams and many community events.
Chinatown activists say seniors are going to be severely affected by the closing. Many were able to walk to the facility for simple medical care and free health classes.
They also worry about the more than 600 people who are now out of a job and have reached out to city leaders to find a way to keep the hospital operating.美國洛杉磯一家157年建立的歷史最久的醫院關閉。這家醫院也是當地華人社區的一個重要支柱。
這座在洛杉磯被人稱爲“法國醫院”的太平洋聯盟醫療中心悄然關閉，沒有舉行任何儀式。很多新到美國的亞洲移民和年邁的華人感到震驚和傷心。
《洛杉磯時報》說，這家醫院一直虧損，拿不出修復地震損壞設施所需的1億美元。加利福尼亞州法律要求必須修復這些設施方能繼續使用。
太平洋聯盟醫療中心1860年開始治療病人，當時大部分病人是法國裔，因而被稱爲法國醫院。
到了19世紀和20世紀，很多新到美國的華人移民在醫院周圍定居，這個地方很快被稱爲唐人街或中國城。
法國醫院很快成爲中國城不可分割的一部分，爲好幾代人提供服務。醫院餐廳的菜單上有亞洲菜餚，醫院還爲社區的青年和少年體育隊以及其它活動提供贊助和支持。
中國城的活動人士說，醫院關閉將嚴重影響一些老年人。他們一直可以走路到醫院接受簡單診治，並接受一些免費的醫療衛生常識培訓。
