Former Loma Linda Hospitals Administrator Named to Head Riverside County Regional Medical Center

A former chief administrative officer at the Loma Linda University Medical Center hospitals recently took over as chief executive officer at Riverside County’s hospital. Zareh H. Sarrafian will help continue the financial about-face at Riverside County Regional Medical Center (RCRMC) that turned a $50 million annual loss into a balanced budget in less than a year. The surprising change resulted from staffing and operational shifts implemented by Huron, a hospital consultant hired by Riverside Ccounty, and Lowell Johnson, another consultant who specializes in turning around financially ailing hospitals. County Executive Office Jay Orr said Sarrafian not only will help take the next steps toward financial stability, he will work to improve health care in the community and expand a network of care anchored by RCRMC. The network includes university programs that educate medical students locally, private and public partnerships in the Inland Empire, and programs that will enable residents to receive specialty care in the region rather than going to Los Angeles or Orange counties. “We are excited to have Zareh on board as we shift from a center largely for indigent patients to one that serves the entire community,” Orr said. “Our emerging network will be available to insured as well as uninsured patients, and our goal is to improve health and health care throughout the region.” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff Stone took time amid the announcement to thank Lowell Johnson, who has been interim chief executive officer at RCRMC since November. During a budget hearing in early September, Johnson told Board members that the hospital budget was balanced for the fiscal year that runs through June. “We cannot thank Lowell enough. Along with Huron, he prevented what could have been years of a financial quagmire,” Stone said. “Now, we are looking at an exciting future and a county hospital that will thrive as we enter a new era in health care.” Sarrafian began working at RCRMC Monday (Oct. 6). Johnson will help with the transition at the hospital for 30 to 60 days. While at Loma Linda University Medical Center until earlier this year, Sarrafian was responsible for operational oversight of hospitals that include Children's Hospital, East Campus Hospital, Heart & Surgical Hospital, and University Hospital. He provided strategic direction in addressing day-to-day internal operations as well as the external growth and partnerships needed to run high-quality programs. When the chief executive officer of LLUMC was absent, he also was responsible for ensuring proficient services designed to meet the needs of patients, physicians, employees, and the public. In other positions at LLUMC, Sarrafian was responsible for preparing operational goals and budgets; ensuring operations complied with applicable laws, regulations and institutional policies; and for contracting activities with managed care organizations and other entities on behalf of the medical center. He played a major role in improving the financial performance of the organization, along with improving patients' access to the institution’s services. "It will be a privilege to work with a team that has improved the hospital's financial condition and at the same time continued to provide excellent medical care for some of our most vulnerable residents," Sarrafian said. Sarrafian, 50, has three children and lives in Riverside. Over the years, he has served on a number of boards for local organizations and has been involved in community volunteer programs. He earned a master's degree in business administration from California State University, San Bernardino, graduating with high honors; and a bachelor's degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.