UCI Irvine Health purchases LAMC and 3 other hospitals

LOS ALAMITOS MEDICAL CENTER

UC Irvine Health, the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine, has acquired four nearby hospitals, including the nearby Los Alamitos Medical Center.

Previously owned by Tenet Healthcare Corporation, UCI Health has added Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, Lakewood Regional Medical Center and Placentia-Linda Hospital as well as the Los Alamitos hospital.

“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 a press release issued last week.

“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 added.

Chad T. Lefteris, UCI Health’s president and chief executive officer, said the additions gave UCI Health an opportunity to build on the care that the community is used to. All patients of the hospitals will continue to receive care as normal, Lefteris said.

As Orange County’s only academic health system, UCI Health plays 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.

The acquisition adds 858 inpatient beds to the already existing 459 beds at UCI Medical Center and strengthens the hospital’s ability to meet increasing demand.

“Our goal is to become the nation’s friendliest and most accessible academic health system,” Lefteris said.

More patients will now have access to the advanced therapies offered at UCI Health ranging from cancer to neurosciences, digestive diseases, orthopedics and internal medicine specialties.

“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,” Lefteris said.

—from a UCI Health press release