Calif. surgery centers to combine operations

Surgery Center of the Pacific and Surgery Center of Santa Monica (Calif.) signed a letter of intent to combine operations, according to a news release.

Officials plan on retaining the Surgery Center of the Pacific name and combining operations in Santa Monica by the end of the year. Surgery Center of the Pacific is an affiliate of Sovereign Healthcare, Mission Viejo, Calif. The center is owned by a partnership of about 20 physicians. Surgery Center of Santa Monica is affiliated with Surgical Care Affiliates, Hoover, Ala. That center is owned by a partnership of more than a dozen physicians.

St. John's Health Center, Santa Monica, also will purchase a majority interest in the new company at an undisclosed price. Surgery Center of the Pacific will then integrate with the St. John's Chan Soon-Shiong Center for Sports Science. The creation of that orthopedic and sports center was announced in March.

"We are excited for this joint effort and the possibilities it offers to both Saint John's and our new CSS2," St. John's President and CEO Lou Lazatin said in the release. "We look forward to being able to expand our surgical offerings so we can better provide for our patients. This venture is very promising for us, our physicians and especially for our patients."