MemorialCare Launches ASC Venture

The physician arm of Long Beach-based MemorialCare Health System has entered into a joint venture with a Kentucky surgical company to acquire and manage ambulatory surgery centers in Southern California.

The venture between the MemorialCare Medical Foundation and the Louisville-based Surgical Care Affiliates is called Beach Surgical Holdings LLC.

Beach Surgical's current holdings include a 51% stake in the MemorialCare Surgical Center at Saddleback and Saddleback Valley Outpatient Surgery Center in Laguna Woods, which it will manage on a day-to-day basis. The remaining 49% interest is owned by individual physicians and the Monarch HealthCare medical group.

“The expansion of ambulatory surgery centers provides more convenient options for our growing patient base in Orange and Los Angeles counties. It allows us to expand our reach in regions like South Orange County as well as future opportunities in Orange and Los Angeles counties," said Mark Schafer, M.D., chief medical officer of the MemorialCare Medical Foundation.

MemorialCare and Surgical Care officials did not say if Beach Surgical Holdings had specific future targets for acquisition or management.