Samuel Tibbitts; Founded Group Health Care Plans

Samuel J. Tibbitts, a nationally recognized Southern California health care expert who created innovative cost-curbing group health delivery systems, has died. He was 69.

Tibbitts died in his sleep Sunday in his Burbank home.

He was chairman of the board of the nonprofit UniHealth America, which he had headed since he helped create it in 1988 by merging his Lutheran Hospital Society of Southern California and HealthWest.

Tibbitts also founded PacifiCare Health Systems, one of the nation’s first major health maintenance organizations, and was a vice chairman of the organization at the time of his death.

Tibbitts also was a founder and chairman of American Healthcare Systems, a group of 32 hospital systems across the country that founded the nation’s first preferred provider system, PPO Alliance, based in Woodland Hills.

Tibbitts was a former chairman of the American Hospital Assn., and former president of the California Hospital Assn., the Hospital Council of Southern California and Lutheran Hospital Society of Southern California.

“More than any other person, Sam Tibbitts has shaped and guided the evolution of health care over the past 40 years,” said Stephen W. Gamble, Tibbitts’ successor as president of the Hospital Council of Southern California.

The author of more than 100 articles on health care, Tibbitts served as commissioner of the national Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals and was vice chairman of Blue Cross of Southern California. He was a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging and an adviser to former Gov. Ronald Reagan and President Richard Nixon.

Among Tibbitts’ awards were the gold medal of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the meritorious service award of the American Hospital Assn., the leadership in health affairs award of the Hospital Council of Southern California and the award of merit of the California Assn. of Hospitals and Health Systems.

UniHealth America gave him its Pinnacle Award, inscribed: “For his passionate concern for the human family and a lifetime contribution toward the enrichment of the nation’s health care community.”

Tibbitts earned a bachelor’s degree in public health at UCLA and a master’s degree in public health and hospital administration at UC Berkeley.

He began his administrative career at California Hospital Medical Center, which in June renamed its patient care facility Tibbitts Tower in his honor.

He is survived by his wife, Audrey; two sons, Scott and Brett, and four grandchildren.

Funeral services are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today at the Hall of Liberty, Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills.

The family has asked that any memorial donations be made to the UniHealth America Foundation, 4100 W. Alameda Ave., Burbank, Calif. 91505.