Prime Healthcare Hospital, Shasta Regional Medical Center, Settles Federal Investigation

ONTARIO, Calif., June 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The well publicized federal investigation conducted by the Office of Civil Rights ("OCR") has reached a settlement agreement with Shasta Regional Medical Center ("SRMC").  Shasta Regional Medical Center, a subsidiary of Prime Healthcare, announced today that the resolution pertains to an alleged violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA"). 

In reaching the agreement, SRMC admitted to no wrongdoing pertaining to the alleged violation of patient privacy.  Prime Healthcare and SRMC firmly believe that they would have prevailed in this matter based upon the merits. However, in view of the unnecessary expense to both SRMC and to the taxpayers of the United States, they reached an agreement to settle the matter and pay $275,000 as a "Resolution Amount."

Prime Healthcare Services has now resolved one of the two federal investigations and is confident that the second one will be resolved in the near future. It's important to note that both of these investigations are related to SEIU-UHW's vicious "corporate campaign" against Prime Healthcare. Prime Healthcare, which was recognized in 2012 and 2013 as one of the top 15 health systems in the nation based on quality of care, intends to keep its focus on positive patient outcomes and to continue its mission of saving hospitals, saving jobs and saving lives.

SRMC was also recognized as one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation in 2013 by Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters), and its Cardio-vascular program was ranked in the top 50 in the nation.

Prime Healthcare Services

Ontario, CA-based Prime Healthcare Services (www.primehealthcare.com), with a motto of "Saving Hospitals, Saving Jobs and Saving Lives," is one of the largest hospital companies in the nation.

Prime Healthcare was recognized as one of the "15 Top Health Systems" in the nation in 2013, based on quality of care and patient satisfaction. It is the third time in five years it has been recognized. In 2013, eight Prime Healthcare hospitals were ranked among the "100 Top Hospitals" in the nation by Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters). Prime Healthcare hospitals have earned the award 21 times.  In addition, eight Prime Healthcare hospitals earned national recognition as "Top Performer on Key Quality Measures," (Top 18 percent), in 2012 from The Joint Commission, the leading Medicare accreditation organization in the country.                                         

Through their subsidiaries, Prime Healthcare Services and the non-profit Prime Healthcare Foundation have more than 20,000 employees and own and operate 23 acute-care hospitals: Alvarado Hospital Medical Center, Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Chino Valley Medical Center, Desert Valley Hospital, Encino Hospital Medical Center, Garden Grove Hospital Medical Center, Huntington Beach Hospital, La Palma Intercommunity Hospital, Montclair Hospital Medical Center, Paradise Valley Hospital, San Dimas Community Hospital, Shasta Regional Medical Center, Sherman Oaks Hospital and West Anaheim Medical Center – in California, Providence Medical Center and Saint John Hospital – in Kansas, Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center – in Nevada, Lower Bucks Hospital and Roxborough Memorial Hospital – in Pennsylvania, Dallas Medical Center, Harlingen Medical Center, Knapp Medical Center and Pampa Regional Medical Center – in Texas.

SOURCE Prime Healthcare Services