City of San Clemente logoTonight the City of San Clemente released survey results that inform a broader community conversation about public health and access to emergency room services within San Clemente city limits. The City Council held a meeting during which the survey research firm, FM3, presented the findings of their survey results.
Key findings of the survey include:
  • 95% of respondents rate quality of life in San Clemente as Good or Excellent, yet only 54% rate health care as Good or Excellent
  • Over 90% of the public is aware that San Clemente lacks a hospital
  • Over 8 in 10 of those surveyed favor development of some form of new hospital in city limits
  • A majority of those surveyed favor some use of public funds to support opening a new hospital and that majority support spanned Democrats, Republicans and Independents.
“The City Council is committed to being responsive to the concerns of our community, and while we all spend a lot of time walking streets and being engaged with the public, a properly executed survey can help ensure we are hearing from a wide swath of the community. These survey results demonstrate there is significant community interest in public health and concerns about speedy access to emergency rooms services,” observed Mayor Gene James.
The survey was conducted from December 4-12, 2021 with 990 participants who responded through either telephone and online data collection methods. The survey has a 4.9% margin of error. The survey was conducted by FM3 Research (https://fm3research.com/) one of California’s largest and most respected polling firms.
The complete survey results presentation from FM3 is available on the City’s Hospital Information page: https://www.san-clemente.org/departments-services/public-safety-services/hospital-information
At the conclusion of the Council Study Session the Council authorized the Hospital Subcommittee to host a community town hall by the end of March to further discuss the future of healthcare in San Clemente and the options available for pursuing a hospital.
“Anytime you can have a 95% excellent or good quality of life rating in a community, you have to pause and appreciate that. We truly live in a great part of the world, and I am confident our Pacific views, ocean breezes and great downtown all contribute to a high rating. But the Council is committed to excellence, and as City Staff we will stay focused on their vision for constant improvement,” said City Manager Erik Sund.