Dignity Health, Kaiser Permanente Join Forces to Strengthen Health Care in Stockton Area

STOCKTON - November 3, 2015 - Dignity Health and Kaiser Permanente are partnering to meet the health care needs of the Stockton community by jointly owning St. Joseph’s Medical Center.

Under the agreement, Dignity Health will retain an 80 percent ownership interest and Kaiser Permanente will purchase a 20 percent ownership interest in St. Joseph’s Medical Center and associated operations in Stockton, including St. Joseph’s Behavioral Health Center.

The name of the hospital will remain St. Joseph’s Medical Center.

Beginning in mid-2016, St. Joseph’s Medical Center will become both a Dignity Health and Kaiser Permanente facility governed by a joint board of directors. St. Joseph’s Medical Center executives will maintain responsibility for day to day hospital operations and staff.

“We look forward to welcoming Kaiser Permanente members and physicians,” said Don Wiley, St. Joseph’s Medical Center’s president and chief executive officer. “We are excited about the opportunity to enhance our capabilities and collaborate for the benefit of our patients, physicians and the community.”

“Both St. Joseph’s Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente have a long and proud record of service to the Stockton-San Joaquin area and we believe this is a great opportunity to learn and innovate together,” said Kaiser Permanente senior vice president and area manager Deborah Friberg.

The partnership will help ensure a stable, financially strong hospital that will serve the needs of the community now and into the future and advance both organizations’ goals of providing high-quality, affordable care:

• In preparation for the partnership, St. Joseph’s Medical Center will expand several areas of the hospital, starting with the Emergency Department.
• The partnership will enable more investment in both inpatient and outpatient services.
• The expanded medical staff will provide new opportunities for collaboration among physicians.
• St. Joseph’s Medical Center will be able to draw upon the expertise of both Dignity Health and Kaiser Permanente for quality and service improvements, initiatives and best practices.

St. Joseph’s Medical Center has been providing health care and community benefit support to the Stockton area for nearly 120 years. The hospital will continue to be sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael.

The hospital is nationally recognized as a quality leader and is consistently chosen as a preferred hospital by local consumers. St. Joseph’s Medical Center is the largest hospital and private employer in Stockton.

Kaiser Permanente is recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. The organization has been repeatedly honored for its award-winning hospitals and innovative approach to delivering care. Kaiser Permanente has been providing high-quality, affordable care for 70 years in California and nearly 40 years in the Stockton area.

Both Kaiser Permanente and St. Joseph’s Medical Center are mission-driven, nonprofit organizations and will continue their strong commitment to their own community benefit programs. Kaiser Permanente will also contribute to St. Joseph’s charitable care services for the poor and underserved.

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