Health system leader is transforming care delivery and access throughout Southern California
August 27, 2024
UCI Health President and CEO Chad T. Lefteris leads Orange County's only academic health system.
Orange, Calif.—The transformative leadership of UCI Health President and CEO Chad T. Lefterishas been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review in its annual Academic Medical Center CEOs to Know list.
The writeup about Lefteris, who leads Orange County’s only academic health system, reads in part:
“He leads a $4 billion enterprise that includes UCI Medical Center, four hospitals and several ambulatory care centers across the region, employing a workforce of 12,000 co-workers. Under his leadership, UCI Health has expanded significantly, including the approval of a $1.3 billion medical campus in Irvine and the acquisition of four hospitals from the Tenet Pacific Coast Network."
UCI Health plays a unique and critical role providing healthcare in the region. The acquisition furthered that commitment to improve health in communities by expanding unrestricted healthcare access for more people in Southern California.
The addition of UCI Health — Fountain Valley, UCI Health — Los Alamitos, UCI Health — Lakewoodand UCI Health — Placentia Lindaadded 858 inpatient beds to the health system. When paired with the 459 licensed beds at UCI Medical Center in Orange, the 1,317 total beds strengthen the ability of UCI Health to meet the continually increasing demand for a range of intensive and critical care needs.
This spring, UCI Health further expanded its ability to provide the most advanced care to the community when it opened the doors of the , which features the full range of adult specialty services as well as specialty services for children.
In July, the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care buildingopened its doors. The new cancer center triples the space available to diagnose, treat and lead clinical trialson cancers of all types, including complex and rare cancers.
In 2025, UCI Health will further broaden its ability to serve the diverse needs of the community when it opens a seven-story, 144-bed acute care hospital with a 24-hour emergency department.
Also opening in 2025 is UCI Health Rehabilitation Hospital, a two-story, 52-bed hospital. The facility will be structurally designed in all units for the needs of patients receiving acute inpatient rehabilitation carefor stroke, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, amputation and other injuries and disorders.
High-quality, safe, accessible care
Under the leadership of Lefteris, UCI Medical Center, part of UCI Health, has furthered its regional and national reputation for a commitment to providing high-quality, safe patient care.
Independent watchdog organization The Leapfrog Group most recently recognized the medical center with its 19th A grade in the spring Hospital Safety Grade. The medical center is also a five-star hospital and a top 10 performer nationally in the 2023 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Annual Ranking by Vizient, Inc. It is also one of the top 10 comprehensive academic medical centers in the U.S. for inpatient care.
Most recently, UCI Medical Center was rated a four-star patient experience hospitalby Medicare. This achievement underscores the health system’s continual commitment to exceptional healthcare and outstanding patient interactions.
UCI Medical Center also received a commendable score of 95 out of 100 on the 2024 Human Rights Campaign Healthcare Equality Index. This prestigious index recognizes U.S. healthcare facilities for their commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusivity and equality.
Leading in sustainability
The writeup also highlighted the commitment that Lefteris has made to sustainability throughout the organization, noting the April opening of the nation’s first all-electric central utilities plantto power an academic medical center at UCI Health — Irvine, along with the numerous recognitions the health system has attained.
Earlier this year, UCI Medical Center, received an Emerald Award from national healthcare sustainability organization. It also recognized the medical center with two Circle of Excellence Awards in climate and energy, which honor up to 10 of the highest performing hospitals nationwide, and a Greening the OR Recognition Award, honoring organizations that have made substantial progress in reducing the environmental impact of surgery.
At UCI Medical Center in Orange, the facilities team has transitioned more than 75% of its landscaping equipment from gas-powered to cleaner, quieter battery-powered tools.
Read more
- Becker’s Hospital Review: 96 academic medical center CEOs to know ›
- Acquisition expands access to academic medicine ›
- UCI Health CEO is named in OCBJ’s annual OC50 list ›
- UCI Medical Center named one of America’s Great Hospitals ›
About UCI Health
UCI Health,one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The system comprises its main campusUCI Medical Center,a 459-bed, acute care hospital in Orange, Calif., four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and ambulatory care centers across the region. Recognized as a Top Hospitalby The Leapfrog Group, UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to Orange County’s onlyNational Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center,high-risk perinatal/neonatal programand American College of Surgeons-verifiedLevel I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center,gold level 1 geriatric emergency departmentandregional burn center. UCI Health serves a region of nearly 4 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us onFacebook,Instagram,LinkedInandTwitter.
About UCI Health — Irvine
UCI Health — Irvine, a new medical complex at the north end of the UC Irvine campus, is bringing unparalleled expertise and the finest evidence-based care that only an academic health system can offer to the communities of coastal and south Orange County. As part of UCI Health — which includes the flagshipUCI Medical Centerin Orange, Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designatedcomprehensive cancer centerand multiple outpatient care locations — the new 1.2 million-square-foot campus will offer key clinical programs in oncology, digestive health, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and spine surgery. The nation’s first medical center powered by an all-electric central utilities plant,UCI Health — Irvineis home to the, a five-story, 168,000-square-foot medical facility offering multidisciplinary specialty care for children and adults, urgent care services, the Center for Children’s Health and the , and the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care building, a five-story, 225,000-square-foot structure. Coming in 2025: a seven-story, 350,000-square-foot, acute care hospital and emergency department.
