By Jason KUROSU

After a year of anticipation, USC’s Keck Medical Center and Verdugo Hills Hospital have officially announced an agreement for an affiliation between the two hospitals.

USC and Verdugo Hills publicly announced the merger Tuesday.

“The partnership positions Keck Medical Center of USC and Verdugo Hills Hospital to better meet the challenges and opportunities created by healthcare reform, and will expand access to world-class healthcare services in the community,” stated USC.

Verdugo Hills Hospital released a similar statement.

“USC is one of only two academic medical centers in the Los Angeles area. VHH is proud to be affiliated with such a prestigious academic medical center.”

In 2012, USC and Glendale Adventist Medical Center had been engaged in talks with Verdugo Hills Hospital about a merger. Rising healthcare costs was believed to be the motivation behind a new affiliation with another local hospital.

At the time, Verdugo Hills issued a statement saying the hospital was “exploring strategic opportunities for affiliation and partnerships that would improve our ability to meet the challenges of healthcare reform and preserve our future relevancy to the [residents] of the Foothill communities we serve.”

“This is an exciting time for all of us and both sides are looking forward to the opportunity to join forces in creating something special in the Foothills communities,” said Len LaBella, president and chief executive officer of Verdugo Hills Hospital. “With this affiliation, the community’s healthcare choices just got better.”

“This affiliation will expand new clinical services at Verdugo Hills Hospital, as well as provide additional resources to grow and renovate existing services and ultimately preserve Verdugo as the healthcare facility of choice for the Foothill communities,” added LaBella.

Tom Jackiewicz, senior vice president and chief executive officer of USC Health, which oversees the Keck Medical Center of USC, said, “Verdugo Hills Hospital’s long history of delivering excellent services will be complemented by USC’s renowned specialty services in medical fields including orthopaedic surgery, cancer, cardiovascular, neurology and neurosurgery, and many more.”

The agreement will be submitted to the California Attorney General for review.

  Jason Kurosu