Los Angeles Business Journal: Thomas M. Priselac Keeps Cedars-Sinai Focused On Quality Care And Expanded Access

Los Angeles Business Journal recently interviewed Thomas M. Priselac, President and CEO of Cedars-Sinai, about his role in keeping the largest hospital complex in the western United States focused on quality care and expanded access.

Cedars-Sinai has 886 licensed beds on its main campus and more than 14,700 full-time employees. During the 2017-2018 fiscal year, the staff handled more than 50,000 patient admissions, nearly 800,000 outpatient visits and 91,000 emergency rooms visits.

Cedars-Sinai also owns Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital, which houses another 133 beds and includes more than 500 employees. Cedars-Sinai and the 553-bed Torrance Memorial Medical Center are affiliated under a parent organization, Cedars-Sinai Health System. Additionally, as the LABJ article details, Cedars-Sinai jointly manages Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center in the San Fernando Valley.

“The key to our success is our people — the physicians, nurses and all the other staff as well as our 3,000 volunteers,” Priselac told the LABJ when asked what Cedars-Sinai does to maintain its top rankings. “Our focus is on supporting them in every way possible, enabling them to do what they do best in the interest of our patients and the community.”

Cedars-Sinai has expanded its reach and facilities with a growing primary care and specialty physician network, and it has grown its community benefit programs to increase access to healthcare in underserved communities throughout Los Angeles.

For example, Priselac told the Business Journal, Cedars-Sinai’s Community Clinic Initiative provides grants and training to strengthen those organizations. In addition, the medical center's Behavioral Health Initiative provides support to 26 community organizations that provide direct mental health services to those in need.

“And our Healthy Habits program offers ongoing health education and exercise programs at more than 30 Head Start and elementary school locations in underserved areas of Los Angeles,” Priselac told the Business Journal.

To further meet the needs of the community, Cedars-Sinai has expanded eligibility for financial assistance programs. Starting Jan. 1, the organization began providing free care to people earning up to 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level and significantly discounted prices to those earning up to 600 percent of the level.

Throughout 2020, Priselac said, he will continually be asking himself how Cedars-Sinai can better meet the needs of the community.

“Sometimes that may be accomplished through geographic expansion (or) through an affiliation with another organization,” said Priselac. “At other times it may be accomplished through strengthening our existing facilities and programs.”

Click here to read the complete article in the LABJ.

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Faces of Cedars-Sinai: Jennifer Van Eyk, Research Director