San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital, Banning, Calif., has entered exclusive affiliation discussions with Loma Linda University Health and Adventist Health.
The 71-bed public hospital said in a recent blog post that its board had voted unanimously at the end of May to enter into discussions with the two systems, which both have ties to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Loma Linda operates three hospitals, while Adventist Health has 18.
The deal would allow the hospital to expand its services and complete the last phase of construction for a patient-care building, which will raise the facility's bed count to 91, according to an Adventist Health news release. The hospital would remain under the governance of a local public board.
An Adventist Health spokeswoman said it's too early to say whether the deal would include a formal merger or any crossing of financials.
San Gorgonio and Loma Linda considered affiliating in November 2013, but the hospital's legal counsel suggested a broader search, according to the Press-Enterprise, a local newspaper.
