History of HASC

For nearly one hundred years, the Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC) has provided advocacy and representation for California’s hospitals. Here, HASC reflects on the evolution of the association and some of the events that shaped health care in Southern California and created innovative programs of national significance.

In 1923, 14 founding hospitals formed HASC. They were:

• California Medical Center

• Clara Barton — now Queen of Angels/Hollywood Presbyterian

• Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

• French Hospital — now Pacific Alliance Medical Center

• Golden State Hospital — now closed

• Hospital of the Good Samaritan — now Good Samaritan Hospital

• Kasper Cohn Hospital — now Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

• L.A. County/USC Medical Center

• Methodist Hospital of Southern California

• Pacific Hospital of Glendale — now closed

• Santa Fe Hospital — now closed

• White Memorial Medical Center

• Sawtelle Hospital — now Veterans Affairs Medical Center – West Los Angeles

• Sea Side Hospital of Long Beach — now Long Beach Memorial Medical Center

HASC Historical Timeline

1898

Eight hospital superintendents meet in Cleveland to form the first hospital association in America, called the American Association of Hospital Superintendents, which later becomes the American Hospital Association.

1917

The Great Flu Epidemic occurs, causing a tremendous nursing shortage.

1922

There now are two metropolitan and 17 state hospital associations.

1923

HASC forms as the first hospital association west of the Mississippi.

1925

The first auxiliary movement develops Jan. 1 when the Rose Parade grandstand collapses and caregivers rush the injured to Huntington Memorial Hospital.

1932

California Hospital sets up an auxiliary at Mines Field (near Baldwin Hills) as part of the first U.S.Olympic Village for the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

1936

WPA funds build the Big County Hospital, which trains many health care executives.

1937

HASC convinces the Legislature to authorize the creation of hospital service plans, otherwise known as Blue Cross Plans.

State hospital leaders organize the first statewide hospital trade association, California Hospital Association (CHA).

Three of the 38 HASC members report a nursing shortage and the average monthly salary ranges from $114 to $125.

1939

Eight-hour days and 48-hour weeks are established as maximum hours for hospital female employees.

1941

The State Unemployment Insurance Commission rules to deny tax-exempt status for nonprofit hospitals and mandates hospital employee unemployment benefits. Hospital construction stops due to the war effort.

1944

Voters approve a constitutional amendment to permit the Legislature to grant property tax exemption for charitable purposes, including nonprofit hospitals. In 1945, the Legislature passes the Welfare Exemption Law to implement this exemption.

1945

California passes a Hospital District Act, which authorizes voter approval of the formation of special tax districts to build and operate hospitals.

1946

The Hospital Council of San Diego and Imperial Counties forms (now the Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties).

1947

HASC and CHA successfully lobby to amend the state constitution to permit the use of state funds to build and expand nonprofit hospitals.

1950

Twenty-four years after the subject was first proposed, HASC launches the Hospital Purchasing Cooperative of Southern California under the direction of Rev. Paul C. Elliott, administrator of Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital.

1958

HASC starts its own professional journal, Hospital Forum. It publishes 206 issues and has 10,214 readers in 1,725 hospitals and 13 western states before HASC sells it for $1 to the Association of Western Hospitals in 1975.

1959

The first Good Samaritan Law is adopted, which provides protection from lawsuits for health care providers who render emergency care to individuals in different settings.

1960

In the forefront of personnel practices, HASC creates the Personnel Practices Committee, which develops Guideposts for Hospital Personnel Practices, Code of Ethics on Recruitment Practices for Hospitals, Wage and Salary Reports and CEO Compensation Surveys.

1962

The Hospital Council of Northern California forms.

1963

HASC issues its first annual Wage and Salary Report.

1964

The California Attorney General rules that husbands can be present with their wives in delivery rooms.

1965

Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Cal) are approved in an effort to entitle the poor and elderly to “mainstream” health care.

1968

Legislation is passed that allows minors (15 to 18 years) to consent to their own treatment.

1969

HASC pioneers the HEAR Radio system.

The Hospital Council of Central California forms.

1970

Walter S. Graf, MD, medical director of Daniel Freeman Hospitals, establishes the first paramedic school at Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital and ultimately pioneered the 911 system for the L.A. area.

1971

Initiated by the Marching and Chowder Society as an alternative to a hospital rate and regulation authority, the Hospital Disclosure Act is approved by the Legislature. CHA worked with HASC for approval, which provides the basis for the entire information system database for health care in California.

1973

Seismic-safety construction standards for hospitals becomes part of Title 24.

HASC organizes a 501( c ) (3) tax-exempt public benefit corporation that becomes the National Health Foundation.

1974

Legislation establishes federally approved health maintenance organizations (HMOs).

SB 1729 creates the Seismic Safety Commission and requires an annual report concerning earthquake hazard reduction.

1975

HASC’s various business services are grouped into a new for-profit subsidiary, which evolves into COHR Inc. These services help hospitals collaborate and lower their purchasing and biomedical engineering costs.

The Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) is approved, renaming the Board of Medical Examiners as the Board of Medical Quality Assurance. This becomes the national prototype for medical malpractice tort reform.

1982

SB 961 creates the Hospital Seismic Safety Act.

Medi-Cal reform bills establish a Medi-Cal czar; transfer responsibility for medically indigent adults; tighten eligibility standards; and allow private insurance companies to contract with providers.

1984

HASC plays an important role in the highly successful 1984 Olympics by organizing an emergency health care and first-aid system for athletes and spectators.

California Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of MICRA.
SB 2062 phases out the Certificate of Need program, to be completed Jan. 1, 1987.

1986

HEAR is upgraded to incorporate digital data communications as the new HEAR/ReddiNet® System.

1990

Double-digit inflation throughout the 1980s plagues the health care industry, spawning development of “managed care” business practices.

1994

The Clinton administration creates a massive task force to develop a national health care reform package.

ReddiNet® Emergency Communication System is put to the test during the Northridge Earthquake

1995

In January, the Hospital Council of Southern California adopts its new name, the Healthcare Association of Southern California, and becomes the first association of its kind to include physician groups, hospitals and integrated systems.

1996

Gov. Pete Wilson signs a bill mandating a task force to study how well managed care is working and how it should be reformed.

COHR Inc., a for-profit subsidiary formed by HASC, goes public.

The HASC/CHA team helps defeat the potentially devastating single-payer ballot measures Propositions 214 and 216.

1997

ReddiNet® II, the largest hospital communication system of its kind, goes live at 69 hospitals in L.A. County.

1998

The Managed Health Care Improvement Task Force presents to Gov. Wilson its recommendations on how to improve California’s managed care system, including a proposal to create a new state agency to oversee health care service plans.

2000

The HASC Safety and Security Committee publishes Emergency Codes: A Guide for Code Standardization, which becomes available to hospitals nationwide as a resource for standardization in dealing with various hospital incidents.

2001

After the attacks of September 11, 2001, federal and state agencies provide for increased funding to prepare for bioterrorism or mass casualty events. All HASC counties increase preparedness efforts, with input as appropriate from hospital members.

HASC develops the Nursing Workforce Initiative, which helps to increase enrollment in local nursing programs and enhance hospital-academic partnerships.

2002

Working in tandem with other statewide collaborators, HASC spearheads the Hospital Quality Initiative, which seeks to evaluate and monitor quality measures and reports generated from a variety of agencies and corporations, with the ultimate goal of providing accurate, meaningful information on hospital quality to the public.

HASC changes its name from Healthcare to Hospital Association, reflecting a focus on serving the specific needs of hospitals.

2003

AllHealthLogic, a division of HASC’s for-profit subsidiary, creates Claims Attachments/Document Exchange, which provides hospitals, medical groups and health insurance organizations with a simple, cost effective electronic method to request, submit and monitor the many documents needed to get health insurance claims paid on a timely, accurate basis.

2004

CHA successfully convinces the administration to issue emergency changes to the nurse-to-patient staffing ratios regulations, giving hospitals needed flexibility in providing timely access to patient-care services.

2005

HASC and CHA launch a long-term effort to educate and engage local elected officials and policymakers, key stakeholder groups, the media, opinion leaders and hospital advocates on the critical issues that impact hospitals and health care delivery.

2006

PDS provides current health plan contract data and sophisticated analysis for strategic planning, business development and contract negotiations.

2008

Recuperative Care program administered through HASC’s charitable affiliate National Health Foundation served more than 1,000 recovering homeless patients no longer in need of hospitalization, saving hospitals $9 million. Started in Orange County, the program now has additional locations in Los Angeles and Inland Empire, and acts as a model for new programs nationwide.

2010

Growing statewide collaborative working to improve clinical outcomes, PSF, formerly Southern California Patient Safety First, demonstrates saving nearly 1,000 lives and cost savings that exceed $19 million.

2010

The Master Medical Foundation, a first-in-the-nation initiated by HASC and its members, helped to facilitate physician/hospital integration and enhance care coordination using a foundation model.

2011

In partnership with iVantage Health Analytics, Lodestone Data Connect provides a robust database to benchmark performance, do peer comparisons, maximize efficiency and guide business development.

2011

Launched as a wholly owned subsidiary of HASC, IPE helps hospitals improve performance and efficiency with Lean program development, performance management tools and professional designation for performance improvement experts.

2012

The first SHIP virtual community dedicated to professional development of performance improvement, Lean and Six Sigma health care professionals in the Unites States.

2012

Building leadership skills for tomorrow, LEAD Academy attracted almost 140 new and veteran health care managers leading to a Certificate in Health Care Leadership for 38 professionals in its first year.

2013

HASC convenes hospital members, law enforcement and risk analysis experts for one of the largest and most comprehensive health care-specific active shooter drills and emergency planning sessions in the state.