UCI, CHOC to combine work in pediatric medicine

The UCI School of Medicine, UCI Healthcare and the Children’s Hospital of Orange County have decided to consolidate their work in pediatric medicine.

The regents of the University of California voted Thursday to approve the “strategic affiliation,” which would have CHOC taking over most pediatric care, while UCI Medical Center focuses on emergency services, burn and trauma care, neonatal and newborn care, and psychiatry; UCI employees working in other pediatric fields will be given the chance to move to the children’s hospital. According to a news release from both organizations, the affiliation will let UCI convert 25 beds to adult medicine.

— Michael Alexander