Billionaire’s Propensity For Grandiosity Makes Some Wary Of His Investments Into Hospitals

The Mercury News: Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong Launches Foray Into The Bay Area
In Los Angeles, billionaire doctor Patrick Soon-Shiong is known as the guy who bought Magic Johnson’s share of the Los Angeles Lakers, and made a $70 million investment in the company that owns the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune. In the health care world, he’s considered a controversial, ambitious medical entrepreneur who made his billions investing in biotechnology and developing anti-cancer drugs. So his announcement this week that he has acquired a controlling stake in Integrity Healthcare, the company that now runs the former Daughters of Charity Health System is considered by many to be a boon to the safety-net hospital system, renamed Verity Health. (Seipel, 7/6)

In other hospital news —

The Baltimore Sun: Maryland Hospital Association CEO Headed To California
Carmela Coyle, the longtime president and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association, is stepping down from the post in the fall to head the California Hospital Association. Coyle has served in her current position for nine years. The executive committee of the Maryland association said it will begin a national search for her replacement. (McDaniels, 7/6)

San Francisco Business Times: Why Sutter Health Won't Be Laying Off These Employees After All
Sutter Health's San Francisco hospital was going to lay off 72 workers and close down two units, but the union and system have reached an agreement to give people their jobs back. (Siu, 7/6)

The Bakersfield Californian: Local Hospital Officially Changes Its Name
San Joaquin Community Hospital is now officially called Adventist Health Bakersfield, the healthcare organization announced in a press release Thursday. The Bakersfield hospital announced plans to change its name earlier this year, and with the California Department of Public Health's approval, the name change is official. It has also created a new mission statement: "Living God's love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope." (7/6)

Ventura County Star: Ventura Man Arrested Over Incident At Hospital
A Ventura man was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest Thursday after refusing to leave Ventura County Medical Center, authorities said. The officer assigned to work inside the emergency room of the hospital at 3291 Loma Vista Road in Ventura was contacted by hospital security at 4:14 p.m. regarding a person who was disturbing and refusing to leave the front lobby, Ventura police said. (7/6)