Hospital name up in air

The purchase of South Coast Medical Center by the Mission Hospital group will not only mean a new hospital operator.

The hospital will also have a new name.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange are asking the community to vote by May 22 on a new name for South Coast Medical Center, in anticipation of the South Laguna hospital becoming part of Mission Hospital.

Postcards have been sent to residents in the coastal areas served by South Coast Medical Center, including Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, said Colleeen Reinhart, director of marketing and communications for Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo.

“The name ‘South Coast Medical Center’ can’t stay because the hospital will be under the license of Mission Hospital,” Reinhart said. “It has to be ‘Mission Hospital’ something.”

Three proposed names are:

 Mission Hospital Coastal;

 Mission Hospital Laguna Beach; or

 Mission Hospital South Coast.

Community members may also propose another name for the hospital.

Votes can be made by postcard, on the community hotline, (949) 365-3876, or by going to www.missionforhealth.com/yourhospital.

The acquisition of South Coast Medical from Adventist Health is still not completed.

The state attorney general held a public hearing April 29 on the issue in preparation for a final decision.