The Westwood Hospital remained opened even after Fruit Growers closed the mill. The new owners Wershow & Weisz did not want to operate the aging facility. They offered to give it to Lassen County along with $5,300, the cost they estimated to make the improvements to the building required to meet fire regulations. Lassen County was not interested. The county stated if the Westwood residents could form a special tax district for the hospital. On June 24, 1958 the few remaining patients were transferred to Chester and Susanville.
Missing in action during the final days of the hospital’s fate was long-time physician Dr. Herman Levin, who was away on vacation in Chicago. Levin,it should be noted, maintained an office in the hospital. M.H. Poster, resident representative of Wershow & Weisz, stated that if Dr. Levin wishes to continue with his office there, it is available to him. If not, Poster stated: “Otherwise the doors will be locked and it will be boarded up.” When Levin returned, he kept is office and it was business as usual in the hospital, except it could only handle emergency care patients until the person could be transferred by ambulance to a neighboring hospital. On April 9, 1972, the community held a retirement party for Dr. Levin.