Huntington Hospital, a 619-bed not-for-profit hospital in Pasadena, has signed an agreement to join Cedars-Sinai Health System. (photo courtesy of Huntington Hospital)

On July 16, Huntington Hospital in Pasadena and Cedars-Sinai Health System announced that they have signed a definitive agreement for Huntington to affiliate with Cedars-Sinai Health System.

On March 9, the organizations announced that they had signed a letter of intent, and following that signing, both organizations engaged in due diligence and negotiations that led to the definitive agreement. The definitive agreement will now be submitted for review and approval to all the appropriate government regulators, including the Office of the California Attorney General. The review process usually takes several months.

The proposed affiliation includes commitments for continued investment in Huntington Hospital in enterprise information technology, growth of ambulatory services and physician development. It will also enable collaborations with the other entities in the Cedars-Sinai Health System to ensure access to high-quality, accessible and affordable care throughout the region. The proposed affiliation is intended to build upon Huntington’s 128-year legacy, and to preserve its unique culture as a community institution governed by a local board, with its own employees and medical staff. In addition, philanthropy and volunteer support will remain locally controlled and used for Huntington Hospital and its existing community.

Cedars-Sinai Health System was established in 2017 to provide a platform for high-quality health care institutions to collaborate and share resources and expertise. It currently comprises Cedars-Sinai (which includes Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital, as well as its network of physicians and medical offices throughout Southern California), Torrance Memorial (which includes Torrance Memorial Medical Center and its network of physicians and medical offices throughout the South Bay) and such joint ventures as California Rehabilitation Institute and Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center.

“On behalf of everyone at Huntington Hospital, we are all very pleased to have reached this important milestone,” said Jaynie Studenmund, chair of the Huntington Hospital Board of Directors. “With the definitive agreement now complete, we can move forward with our joint effort to secure the necessary regulatory approvals.”

“The goal of Cedars-Sinai Health System is to strengthen access to and affordability of quality care for more Southern Californians through the sharing of resources and expertise among our facilities,” said Vera Guerin, chair of the Cedars-Sinai Health System Board of Directors. “The addition of Huntington Hospital, with its strong commitment to serving the community, and the quality of its physicians, nurses and other staff, would further strengthen the ability to provide this for the region.”

For information, visit huntingtonhospital.org and cedars-sinai.org.