EXCLUSIVE: MPTF REVERSAL! Deal To Keep Acute Care Hospital Open And Even Expand Services

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. (February 23, 2011) – The Motion Picture and Television Fund (MPTF) announced today it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Providence Health & Services California with plans to broaden and expand healthcare services to the entertainment industry and the community on its storied Wasserman Campus in Woodland Hills. The proposed relationship with Providence will enable MPTF to continue providing long-term care services on its campus, setting aside its closure announcement of early 2009.

MPTF’s primary care network of seven health centers in Southern California, serving 60,000 entertainment industry workers annually, will not be impacted by the MPTF-Providence arrangement. For the 180 independent and assisted living residents on The Wasserman Campus, the Providence relationship breathes new life into the health services they may require as they age under MPTF care. MPTF will continue its broad social services programs, including financial grants of charitable assistance for industry members in need, residential subsidies, Elder Connection, and the Samuel Goldwyn Foundation Children’s Center. UCLA Health System will also participate in the revitalization of the medical program, locating a new neurological rehabilitation unit at the MPTF.

Under the terms of the proposed agreement, Providence would sign a long-term master lease agreement for the MPTF hospital facilities. State licenses for the 250-bed hospital would be transferred to nearby Providence Tarzana Medical Center. The plan is subject to regulatory approval.

MPTF and Providence will continue to meet the needs of the entertainment community through industry-exclusive long-term care and dementia care units. Other services provided by Providence on the Woodland Hills campus, including skilled nursing, palliative care and other post-acute care units, will be available to the greater community.

“Over the last year, I have been working closely with my fellow board members and management to find a positive resolution to our long-term care and acute care issue. With this letter of intent, the framework is now in place to accomplish that. The new affiliation with Providence Health & Services will create a vibrant medical campus with services never before available to our industry members. It exceeds all expectations by providing continuity for our current long-term care residents and a continuum of care for our 180 campus residents in independent and assisted living, including long-term care and our dementia care unit Harry’s Haven,” said Bob Beitcher, chief executive officer of MPTF.

Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health & Services, parent organization of Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and Providence Tarzana Medical Center, all in the San Fernando Valley, as well as Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers in San Pedro and Torrance, was founded by the Sisters of Providence and the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary. Since coming to the Valley 70 years ago to build a hospital in Burbank, the nonprofit Catholic ministry has held close ties with the entertainment industry.

“Landmark studios in the Valley were instrumental in building our first hospital ministry here, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center. Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. and CBS Studios helped finance the initial construction and continue along with NBCUniversal to be among our greatest supporters,” said Michael Hunn, senior vice president and chief executive of Providence California. “The Mission of Providence and the Motion Picture and Television Fund are perfectly aligned. We are privileged to serve those in the entertainment industry, and we look forward to providing quality, safe and compassionate care.” Hunn said Providence also looks forward to the new relationship with UCLA Health System as a step toward a more collaborative approach to providing quality health care to all of Southern California by finding creative ways to pool resources.

“The opportunity to add a UCLA neurological rehab unit to the stunning MPTF hospital campus and expand our capacity in this area is exciting. UCLA has enjoyed a long and productive relationship with the entertainment community, and we are proud to join MPTF and Providence in Woodland Hills,” said Dr. David Feinberg, CEO of the UCLA Hospital System.

MPTF and Providence hope to complete definitive agreements later this year, detailing each party’s roles and responsibilities. Any final agreement will be subject to Board and regulatory approvals. Details of the final agreement will be available at a later time.

“There are nothing but winners here, including our long-term care residents, our campus residents concerned about continuum of care, our employees, Providence Health & Services and UCLA Health System, the residents of the San Fernando Valley, and most importantly, a community of entertainment industry workers who will share in the pride of being part of an industry that fills the needs of its members in such an extraordinary fashion,” Beitcher said.

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