On Apr. 1, 2009, the University of Southern California (USC) announced they had completed the purchase of  Norris Cancer Hospital and University Hospital (now Keck Hospital) from Tenet Healthcare for $275 million. The deal closed March 31, beginning a new era of leadership and patient care at the two flagship hospitals. In April 2010, inpatient surgery moved to a new 10 story addition at the now-called Keck Hospital of USC, named the Norris Inpatient Tower.

USC, one of the world’s leading private research universities, and UCLA are now the only two Los Angeles area universities owning hospitals. USC’s purchase includes 471 inpatient beds and 1,600 hospital employees. Planning is already under way for recruiting additional physicians, hiring additional nurses and other personnel, refreshing facilities and enhancing patient amenities.

With the hospital acquisition, USC’s faculty physicians will care for private patients at two hospitals owned and managed by the university, allowing for greater physician direction of clinical programs and acceleration of innovative therapies and surgical techniques for cardiovascular and thoracic diseases, urologic disorders, neurological issues, organ transplantation, cancer treatment, disease prevention and other health concerns. USC President Steven B. Sample credits key members of the USC Board of Trustees with helping to bring the acquisition to a successful conclusion.

Facilities at the 411-bed USC University Hospital include the new 10-story Norris Inpatient Tower, which provides 11 new operating rooms and 150 inpatient rooms, many of which have never been used. Facilities at the USC Norris Cancer Hospital include 60 beds. When USC opens the new inpatient beds at University Hospital, the Doctors of USC will be caring for patients throughout a 1,400-bed system, including the 600-bed Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center and the 317-bed Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

USC’s more than 500 Doctors of USC are well known for the care they have provided to patients at LA County’s LAC+USC facilities for more than 100 years, building the largest academic training program in the country with more than 900 residents and fellows.