Community Hospital of Long Beach Officially Becomes Part of The Memorial Care System

I am guessing now as far as medical records they will become part of the Epic system since the current hospitals are either currently using the system or are or will be in the process. The original front of the hospital is actually a state landmark and over the years has been through some turbulent times, with being closed for a few years and during that time was used for movies and television show sets. When it re-opened employees came back with files, patient files as when it was purchased by the Catholic Healthcare system years ago it was closed down immediately and employees saved the files and took them home for storage and safe keeping as they knew one day they would be needed. When the hospital re-opened everyone brought the files from home they had stored and most came back to work. By today’s standards that would not happen of course by we are going back a number of years for a bit of history here.

It is not too far from Long Beach Memorial which is always busy and have seen patients from time to time when situation over flow would occur. Last year the merger was announced and it appears now to be final with everything in place.

Community Hospital of Long Beach Becomes a Part of Memorial Care

Last year I did a walk through tour of the brand new children’s hospital at Long Beach which is adjacent to Long Beach Memorial and also part of Memorial Care.

Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach – Brand New Pavilion Carries Focus on Patients and “Green”

Actually a few years ago I consulted at this hospital with providing some data work here with writing custom data base programs and setting up the software and training for their outreach nutrition program working with students from the nearby university to help seniors with better eating and exercise habits and a few other various Health IT projects. Recently to in the news their independent physician’s association in Terminal Island was assumed by OptumHealth.

OptumHealth (Subsidiary of United Healthcare) Takes Over Memorial IPA in California-Subsidiary Watch

Here’s a nice video showing some of their community outreach programs with Goodwill and you get to see the original building quite a bit here as well.

Press Release:

Fountain Valley, Calif. (April 29, 2011) – Community Hospital Long Beach today joined MemorialCare Health System as its sixth hospital facility in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and third hospital in Long Beach.

“Our ownership of Community Hospital Long Beach will enhance the ability of these remarkable hospitals to continue providing exceptional care for our communities well into the future,” says Barry Arbuckle, Ph.D., president and CEO of the not-for-profit MemorialCare Health System.

“We are excited to add such a dedicated and talented team of employees, physicians and volunteers to the MemorialCare family. They embody the can-do spirit that has made Community Hospital a provider of choice in East Long Beach,” says Diana Hendel, PharmD, who has led Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach for more than two years and becomes CEO of the three Long Beach hospitals.

With 1,006-licensed beds, the three Long Beach hospitals include 5,900 employees, 1,400 affiliated physicians and 1,000 volunteers.

“Community Hospital Long Beach will continue to benefit East Long Beach for decades to come,” says Nancy Myers, who served as the Community Hospital of Long Beach board chair. “Being part of MemorialCare brings new opportunities for our dedicated physicians, nurses and other professionals to provide the local community with greater health services while maintaining the level of highly personalized care that Community Hospital offers.”

Terms of the transaction include assuming the lease of Community Hospital campus from the City of Long Beach, which includes the hospital and medical office building.

Community Hospital’s leadership team will continue in their roles, reporting to Hendel. A search for a hospital administrator responsible for overall operations and business development is underway. Current employees of Community Hospital have been encouraged to remain, with most continuing in their roles. Plans to integrate and expand services offered by the Long Beach-based MemorialCare hospitals are in development.

Opened in 1924, the original Community Hospital building is designated as a Long Beach Historic Landmark for its Spanish Colonial Revival Style, its courtyard patio, fountain centerpiece and arcade facade.

As a new member of the MemorialCare family in Long Beach, Community Hospital joins Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s Hospital, which rank in the top two in the West in numbers of hospital beds on one campus. With more than a century of caring for the community, Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s Hospital have received significant and ongoing accolades, including listings among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals and Top Children’s Hospital rankings. Recently, they were honored with MemorialCare Health System as one of just 29 businesses worldwide to receive the prestigious Gallup Great Workplace Award.

MemorialCare Health System with 1,549 licensed hospital beds is nationally recognized for leadership in best-practice medicine and advanced technologies. The Southern California Health System includes Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, Community Hospital Long Beach, Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley and Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills and San Clemente, plus numerous outpatient facilities and programs.