ECRMC, Rady Children’s Hospital join forces
The El Centro Regional Medical Center has partnered with Rady Children’s Hospital of San Diego to improve the pediatric care in the Valley.
RCHSD began managing pediatric services at the ECRMC El Centro and Calexico Outpatient clinics on Feb. 1.
RCHSD will be responsible for providing two positions: a clinic manager, who will lead staff at both the El Centro and Calexico pediatric clinics in day-to-day operations, and a pediatric medical director, who will oversee the pediatric physicians who provide services at both clinics.
“RCHSD brings a high level of expertise in the management of pediatric services,” said Tomas Virgen, interim chief executive officer of El Centro Regional Medical Center. “With Rady Children’s enduring commitment to safety and its well-deserved reputation for providing the highest quality care, we’re confident ECRMC’s pediatric patients are in the very best hands.”
Prior to the partnership with Rady Children’s, ECRMC was in charge of the pediatric services at both clinics.
In addition to San Diego and Imperial counties, RCHSD also provides health care to children in southern Riverside County.
“RCHSD operated our pediatric specialty clinic in El Centro from 1998-2005, and since that time we have continued to work with RCHSD to treat our pediatric patients,” said Rosana Lugo, marketing and public relations manager for ECRMC. “We’re excited to be welcoming them back. Rady Children’s will provide a wide array of health care services to children in the county, including outpatient pediatric primary care and specialty care services.”
“El Centro Regional Medical Center is always looking to improve the quality of care,” Lugo said. “Rady Children’s Hospital of San Diego is a nationally rec- ognized pediatric entity that will benefit our community and will improve the delivery of health care of the Imperial Valley.”
Other than a change in management no significant changes are expected to occur at the outpatient clinics.
“Rady Children’s has been providing care to the children of the Imperial Valley since we first opened our doors in 1954, including operating a pediatric specialty clinic in El Centro from 1998 to 2005,” said Irvin A. “Buzz” Kaufman, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Rady Children’s. “We’re looking forward to once again overseeing the health care services provided to the children of the Imperial Valley.”
The El Centro Outpatient Clinic is located at 385 W. Main St. in El Centro, and the Calexico Outpatient Center is located at 495 Birch St. in Calexico. The clinics provide health care services to both adults and children.