Two O.C. Hospitals Bought by Vanguard

Nashville-based Vanguard Health Systems has acquired two Orange County hospitals from Triad Hospitals Inc. in Dallas, the companies announced Friday.

Vanguard will take over the 219-bed West Anaheim Medical Center in Anaheim and the 130-bed Huntington Beach Hospital in Huntington Beach. The deal also gives Vanguard an interest in North Anaheim Surgicenter, an outpatient surgery center in Anaheim. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

Triad had earmarked the hospitals and five other properties to be sold after it was spun off in May from Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp., the nation’s largest for-profit hospital operator.

“Most of our hospitals are in markets of 100,000 or above and are the sole provider or one of two in the market,” said Patricia Ball, a Triad spokeswoman. “These hospitals are doing well financially, but they didn’t fit our strategy.”

Triad owns or manages 35 other hospitals and 14 ambulatory surgery centers. Vanguard, which is privately held, acquired its first hospital last year, Maryvale Hospital Medical Center in Phoenix.

Vanguard will retain David Culberson, longtime chief executive of West Anaheim Medical Center.

The company plans no staff cuts and expects to upgrade equipment and expand services at both hospitals, a Vanguard spokeswoman said.