State OKs Joint License for Two Scripps Hospitals

The California Department of Health Services has approved the joint license application for Scripps Mercy Hospital and Scripps Memorial Hospital Chula Vista. The decision brings the two hospital campuses together under one license and one name – Scripps Mercy Hospital. The Hillcrest campus will continue to be known as Scripps Mercy Hospital, while the Chula Vista campus is now Scripps Mercy Hospital, Chula Vista.The decision was made retroactive to Oct. 1.

“Scripps is committed to meeting the health care needs of all the communities we serve – including the metro and South Bay regions of San Diego,” said Scripps President and CEO Chris Van Gorder. “Combining our Chula Vista and Hillcrest campuses onto one operating license allows us to make the best use of our resources to meet the needs of these communities.”

The combined hospital will have 650 general acute care beds and 50 acute psychiatric beds and other related services making it one of the largest medical campuses in California.

The Chula Vista site becomes part of Scripps Mercy’s Catholic affiliation. Both sites will continue to offer graduate medical education programs.

Scripps Mercy Hospital is San Diego’s longest-operating hospital, founded in 1890 by Mother Mary Michael Cummings.The hospital is part of Scripps Health, founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, which is celebrating 80 years as a tax-exempt, San Diego-based health care system. Scripps treats 525,000 patients annually through the dedication of more than 2,600 affiliated physicians and 10,500 employees spread across five hospital campuses, home health care services, and an ambulatory care network of clinics, physicians’ offices and outpatient centers. Recognized as a world leader in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, Scripps is in the forefront of prevention, medical innovation, clinical research and technology.