Community Corner
Banning's San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital to Pursue Affiliation with Loma Linda University
The San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, at their June 3, 2014 public meeting, approved a motion to pursue an affiliation between the Hospital and Loma Linda University Health Care Systems.
According to Hospital Board Chairperson Dr. Jerilynn Kaibel, the San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital Board of Directors engaged MDS Consulting, a firm based in Costa Mesa, to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the future of SGMH as a stand-alone facility, taking into consideration the direction health care is going. Eric Themm, a principal with MDS, did an in-depth study of SGMH’s facility, demographics and potential, taking into account the anticipated growth of SGMH's service area.
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MDS Consulting’s recommendation to the Board was to pursue negotiations towards an affiliation with Loma Linda University Health Care Systems. Loma Linda University has been very active with SGMH with regard to expanding health care in the San Gorgonio service area. Accordingly, looking to the long term future of SGMH and the citizens the Hospital currently serves, as well as the expanding growth, the Board of Directors passed the following motions:
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Approve entering into exclusive negotiations with Loma Linda University Health Care Systems for the purpose of affiliation; and
Authorize MDS Consulting to act as agent for affiliation negotiations.
“The affiliation is not a sale of the hospital. Loma Linda University Health Care Systems would manage and operate the hospital in a long-term arrangement,” Dr. Kaibel said. “The Board is optimistic about pursuing this affiliation and the opportunity to augment our current services with specialists from Loma Linda University Health Care Systems.”
An Ad Hoc Affiliation Task Force has been named to proceed with ongoing exclusive negotiations with Loma Linda University Health Care System for the purpose of affiliation. The members of the task force are Dr. Jerilynn Kaibel, Lynn Baldi, Olivia Hershey, DeNae Reagins, and Estelle Lewis.
As these negotiations proceed, additional information will be provided to Hospital staff and the community.
“As a long time resident of this community, I look forward to advancing the services and facilities of San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital for the long-term viability of healthcare delivery for many years to come,” Dr. Kaibel said.
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