Scripps Health

Scripps Health
Type Non-profit
Genre Health Care
Founded 1924
Founder(s) Ellen Browning Scripps
Headquarters San Diego, California, USA
Employees over 13,000
Website www.scripps.org

Scripps Health is a nonprofit health care system based in San Diego, California. The system includes four hospitals and 19 outpatient facilities, and treats a half-million patients annually through 2,600 affiliated physicians.

The system also includes clinical research and medical education programs.

The Scripps name dates to 1924 when philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps established Scripps Memorial Hospital and the Scripps Metabolic Clinic in La Jolla, California. Scripps Mercy Hospital joined the system in 1995, and was founded in 1890 making it San Diego's oldest hospital. Other facilities are Scripps Green Hospital, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, the Scripps Clinic and Scripps Coastal Medical Center.[1]

In 2002, Scripps Health switched its hospital buying agent from Novation to MedAssets. Scripps Health had issues with fees that Novation had collected from medical supply companies. Scripps estimated that the agreement with MedAssets would save $20 to $25 million per year of the $212 million the hospital network spent annually on supplies.[2]

The company was ranked 37th by Forbes magazine on its 2011 list of the "100 Best Companies to Work For", citing the company's retirement program and contribution.[3]

Contents

History

Scripps Health is one of the many organizations that grew out of Ellen Browning Scripps’ philanthropic efforts. In 1924, while recovering from a broken hip in a poorly equipped sanitarium in La Jolla, Calif., Scripps resolved to build the finest hospital she could for the community. Scripps Memorial Hospital was founded on a site on Prospect Street, where it grew until 1964, when it relocated to its present site.

She also founded Scripps Metabolic Clinic in 1924, which eventually split to become The Scripps Research Institute and Scripps Clinic.

Mercy Hospital, San Diego’s longest-established hospital and only Catholic health care facility, joined Scripps Health in 1995. Scripps Mercy Hospital now features campuses in San Diego and Chula Vista.

Scripps Health’s facilities and services continue to grow, and now include home health services, clinical research, medical education, comprehensive cancer care and genomic medicine programs.

Major programs and centers

There are a number of notable specialty programs within Scripps Health, including

Future plans

The organization has a number of projects planned, including Scripps Cardiovascular Institute, which will serve as a center for heart disease treatment, research and graduate medical education.[4]

Groundbreaking has begun on the Scripps Proton Therapy Center, planned for completion in spring 2013. It will be only the second facility in the Western U.S. to offer proton therapy, primarily used in cancer treatment.[5]

The health system also plans to expand its Scripps Memorial Encinitas campus with additional parking and emergency department capacity, as well as enhancements to its stroke and heart attack receiving centers. This project is in the community review process.[6]

Scripps Mercy Hospital’s San Diego campus is raising funds to expand and modernize its facility, including the emergency department.[7]

The Scripps Genomic Medicine and Scripps Translational Science Institute continue work toward the application of genetic information to individualized medical care.[8]

References

  1. ^ Who We Are, Scripps Health. Accessed December 9, 2008.
  2. ^ Walsh, Mary Williams. "Hospital Network's Switch Is Blow to Novation", The New York Times, November 23, 2002. Accessed December 9, 2008.
  3. ^ Staff. 100 Best Companies to Work For 2011, Forbes. Accessed June 1, 2011.
  4. ^ Cheryl Clark. The heart of cardiac care, San Diego Union-Tribune. May 31, 2006. Accessed August 11, 2010.
  5. ^ Staff. Scripps Breaks Ground on $185 Million Proton Therapy Center, AdvanceWeb.com. August 7, 2010. Accessed August 11, 2010.
  6. ^ Tanya Mannes. Hospital proposes $200 million expansion, San Diego Union-Tribune. December 4, 2008. Accessed August 11, 2010.
  7. ^ Keith Darcé. Scripps Mercy announces $203 million expansion, San Diego Union-Tribune. November 12, 2008. Accessed August 11, 2010.
  8. ^ Cheryl Clark. Scripps plans to start new medical school, San Diego Union-Tribune. March 25, 2008. Accessed August 11, 2010.