San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital, Banning, Calif., has entered exclusive affiliation discussions with Loma Linda (Calif.) University Health and Adventist Health.
The 71-bed public hospital noted 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 and Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health has 18 facilities.
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. San Gorgonio 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 proposed a broader search, according to the Press-Enterprise, a local newspaper.
