It is now official, the Los Alamitos Medical Center has a new owner.
Calling it a “historic day” for UC Irvine and beyond, UCI Health has officially completed its approximately $1 billion purchase of four regional medical centers and plans an invitation only reception on Friday to share additional information for community leaders.
According to local spokesperson Jennifer Bayer, local elected officials and community members have been invited to a reception scheduled for Friday with UCI Health officials along with LAMC personnel to discuss future operations of the medical center.
In the $987 million purchase, UCI Health acquired LAMC and three other hospitals from Tenet Health, including Lakewood Regional Medical Center, Placentia-Linda Hospital and Fountain Valley Regional Medical Center.
The recent purchases add to the growing list of medical facilities and institutions owned and operated by the University based academic health network.
“UCI Health is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine, and the only academic health system based in Orange County. UCI Health is comprised of its main campus, UCI Medical Center, a 459-bed, acute care hospital in Orange, Calif., and four hospitals,” the institution said in a press release this week.
This includes affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and ambulatory care centers across the region, the company said. As of March 27, the purchase became official and team members working at the acquired facilities became part of UCI Health.
“This is a historic day for UC Irvine, California and beyond. We celebrate the transformation of UCI Health as a leader in the integration of academic and community-based health systems while promoting solutions to challenges facing healthcare,” said UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman in the release.
“This visionary leap forward will bridge gaps in regional care and advance the University of California’s mission to serve our communities through academic excellence, cutting-edge research and dedicated public service,” he said.
As Orange County’s only academic health system, UCI Health stated that it will now play “a unique and critical role providing healthcare in the region. This acquisition builds on that commitment to improve health in communities by expanding unrestricted healthcare access for more people in Southern California.”
Chad Lefteris, president and CEO of UCI Health said the purchase of the four regional hospitals is a feat worth celebrating.
“The people of Southern California and the patients across these local communities have something truly remarkable to celebrate today,” said Lefteris.
“UCI Health has built a legacy as a nationally regarded academic health system that is fiercely dedicated to improving the health of our communities. We are investing in building a healthier future for people that harnesses the power of advanced medicine with the convenience of care available close to home,” he said.
“Our goal,” he added, “is to become the nation’s friendliest and most accessible academic health system.”
Lefteris said UCI Health recognizes a unique opportunity to build on the quality care already being delivered in the communities served by these hospitals. Patients of the former Tenet hospitals and outpatient offices can continue receiving care at their local facilities as they normally would from their trusted physicians and care teams.
The acquisition adds 858 inpatient beds that, when paired with the 459 licensed beds at UCI Medical Center in Orange, strengthens UC Irvine’s ability to meet the continually increasing demand for inpatient beds for a range of intensive and critical care needs, the system said in its statement.
“UCI Health is backed by the power of a world-class public research institution, reflected in the academic excellence of the Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences,” said Steve A.N. Goldstein, MD, PhD, FAAP, Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs, UC Irvine.
“This combination of top-tier research, education of the next generation of providers, and commitment to public health is advancing healthcare solutions and innovations in Southern California and beyond. Together, with providers in the new hospitals, UCI Health is building bridges for collaboration between academic and community-based healthcare and offering more people across California access to the highest caliber of healthcare.”
Listed among America’s Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for 23 consecutive years, UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center.
“We deeply appreciate the enthusiasm and support we have received since announcing this new chapter for healthcare in our region,” said Lefteris.
“Now, we can begin strengthening the collaboration with local physicians and patients to expand healthcare services and provide unrestricted access for more people. Together, we will be an innovative, powerful team that will transform to meet the health needs of our communities.”