Prem Reddy
Encyclopedia
Dr. Prem Reddy is a cardiologist and a major owner of Prime Healthcare Services
, Inc., which owns several hospitals in California
in the United States
.
Reddy was born in a rural village in southern India
. He graduated from Sri Venkateswara University
Medical College in 1973. In 1976 Premm and his wife immigrated to the United States.
Reddy, holding an MD, FACC, and FCCP, is a board-certified physician in internal medicine
and cardiology
. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology
and the American College of Chest Physicians
. During two decades of practice, Dr. Reddy performed more than 5,000 cardiac procedures (such as coronary angiography and angioplasty
, and permanent pacemaker
implantations). Reddy is no longer licensed to practice medicine in California.
In the early 1980s, Dr. Reddy founded Desert Valley Medical Group in Victorville, CA and established Primecare Medical Group in 1992. He also founded PrimeRx, with 250,000 managed care patients, generating over $500 million in revenues an headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. He established Desert Valley Hospital
in 1994 which today stands as the flagship hospital in the California healthcare system known as Prime Healthcare Services. Desert Valley Hospital has been recognized as a Top 100 Hospital in the Nation on numerous occasions. Reddy established Desert Valley Hospital’s Foundation which awards $100,000 in scholarships each year to local students pursuing a medical or health-care career. The amount each recipient received this year was based on the student’s financial situation and which school he or she attends. As Chairman of the Board of Prime Healthcare Services he established a Foundation which has made significant contributions to healthcare related causes including a $100,00 donation to benefit Community Care Health Centers in Orange County, CA.
Dr. Reddy has gifted over $10 million to causes related to the healthcare industry and caring for others. In 1989, he established the Desert Valley Charitable Foundation
with an initial gift of $1 million. Since then, he has contributed over $5 million to the Foundation.
The Victor Valley College Foundation in Victorville, CA, has honored Dr. Reddy for the largest private donation in the history of the College. His million dollar gift in 2003 resulted in the naming of its Allied Health Program as "Dr. Prem Reddy School of Allied Health and Nursing." The donation directly addresses the nursing shortage while assisting the next generation of healthcare professional with scholarships and grants. Dr.Reddy has also donated a public health library to the High Desert community of Southern California as well as a Senior Wellness Center in Apple Valley to serve the senior community in the High Desert. Victor Valley Community Hospital recently received a $750,000 donation for new equipment from Dr. Reddy.
The Western University of Health Sciences
in Pomona, CA, named its largest lecture hall the "Dr. Prem Reddy Lecture Hall" in honor of his many contributions to education in the health care field. He donated a $1 million gift to the Circle of Care Foundation at Sherman Oaks Hospital
in Sherman Oaks, CA which helps support burn survivors, seniors, and family care givers. The American College of Cardiology
in Bethesda, Maryland, designated Dr. Reddy a Member of The Order of William Harvey, in recognition of and appreciation for outstanding support of the College's Endowment Programs. He also received the National Citizen's Award from the Hon'ble Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda, the Prime Minister of India.
ran a news story that alleged that the policies of Prime HealthCare Services, Inc. resulted in higher than average profits at the possible cost of patient care. According to the Times story, "When Reddy's company, Prime Healthcare Services Inc., takes over a hospital, it typically cancels insurance contracts, allowing the hospital to collect steeply higher reimbursements. It has suspended services — such as chemotherapy treatments, mental health care and birthing centers — that patients need but aren't lucrative.... On four occasions since 2002, inspectors have found that Prime Healthcare facilities failed to meet minimum federal safety standards, placing their Medicare funding at risk."
In 2005, two former nurses at Desert Valley Hospital won a lawsuit in which they claimed they were improperly fired after they accused hospital management of providing inadequate care to save money and Reddy of repeatedly reporting to work while under the influence of alcohol. In February 1999, Reddy was arrested for allegedly attacking Dr. Harry Lifschutz at Desert Valley Medical Group. Reddy jumped over a desk in the doctor's waiting room and allegedly attempted to choke him and take a laptop from Lifschutz's office.
Prime Healthcare Services
is under investigation by the United States Department of Health and Human Services
and the California Department of Justice
about concerns over a reported spike in septicemia. The investigation centers around whether the spike in septicemia represents a large public health issue or multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud
. Six Prime hospitals ranked in the 99th percentile of U.S. hospitals for septicemia and five were in the 95th percentile.
Prime Healthcare Services
Prime Healthcare Services is a hospital management company in Southern California. Founded by Dr. Prem Reddy in 2001, it is based in Ontario, California...
, Inc., which owns several hospitals in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Reddy was born in a rural village in southern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He graduated from Sri Venkateswara University
Sri Venkateswara University
Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, is a state university, which was established in 1954, in the famous temple city of Tirupati, South India, under the auspices of Late Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, and with support of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams...
Medical College in 1973. In 1976 Premm and his wife immigrated to the United States.
Reddy, holding an MD, FACC, and FCCP, is a board-certified physician in internal medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
and cardiology
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology
American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology is a nonprofit medical association established in 1949 to advocate for quality cardiovascular care through education, research promotion, development and application of standards and guidelines, and to influence health care policy...
and the American College of Chest Physicians
American College of Chest Physicians
The American College of Chest Physicians is a medical organization in the United States consisting of physicians and non-physician specialists in the field of chest medicine, which includes pulmonology, thoracic surgery, and critical care medicine....
. During two decades of practice, Dr. Reddy performed more than 5,000 cardiac procedures (such as coronary angiography and angioplasty
Angioplasty
Angioplasty is the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel, the latter typically being a result of atherosclerosis. An empty and collapsed balloon on a guide wire, known as a balloon catheter, is passed into the narrowed locations and then inflated to a fixed size...
, and permanent pacemaker
Pacemaker
An artificial pacemaker is a medical device that uses electrical impulses to regulate the beating of the heart.Pacemaker may also refer to:-Medicine:...
implantations). Reddy is no longer licensed to practice medicine in California.
In the early 1980s, Dr. Reddy founded Desert Valley Medical Group in Victorville, CA and established Primecare Medical Group in 1992. He also founded PrimeRx, with 250,000 managed care patients, generating over $500 million in revenues an headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. He established Desert Valley Hospital
Desert Valley Hospital
Desert Valley Hospital is an 83 bed acute care facility in Victorville, California, USA. DVH is owned and operated by Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. , a hospital management company located in Ontario. PHS was founded in 2001 by Prem Reddy, who acts as its present Chairman of the Board...
in 1994 which today stands as the flagship hospital in the California healthcare system known as Prime Healthcare Services. Desert Valley Hospital has been recognized as a Top 100 Hospital in the Nation on numerous occasions. Reddy established Desert Valley Hospital’s Foundation which awards $100,000 in scholarships each year to local students pursuing a medical or health-care career. The amount each recipient received this year was based on the student’s financial situation and which school he or she attends. As Chairman of the Board of Prime Healthcare Services he established a Foundation which has made significant contributions to healthcare related causes including a $100,00 donation to benefit Community Care Health Centers in Orange County, CA.
Dr. Reddy has gifted over $10 million to causes related to the healthcare industry and caring for others. In 1989, he established the Desert Valley Charitable Foundation
Desert Valley Charitable Foundation
The Desert Valley Charitable Foundation was founded in 1989. The Foundation was established by Prem Reddy, MD, a cardiologist and philanthropist with an initial gift of $1 million. Since that time, he has contributed over $5 million to the Foundation...
with an initial gift of $1 million. Since then, he has contributed over $5 million to the Foundation.
The Victor Valley College Foundation in Victorville, CA, has honored Dr. Reddy for the largest private donation in the history of the College. His million dollar gift in 2003 resulted in the naming of its Allied Health Program as "Dr. Prem Reddy School of Allied Health and Nursing." The donation directly addresses the nursing shortage while assisting the next generation of healthcare professional with scholarships and grants. Dr.Reddy has also donated a public health library to the High Desert community of Southern California as well as a Senior Wellness Center in Apple Valley to serve the senior community in the High Desert. Victor Valley Community Hospital recently received a $750,000 donation for new equipment from Dr. Reddy.
The Western University of Health Sciences
Western University of Health Sciences
Western University of Health Sciences is a non-profit, private, graduate school for the health professions. The university campus includes 11 major buildings on in downtown Pomona, California....
in Pomona, CA, named its largest lecture hall the "Dr. Prem Reddy Lecture Hall" in honor of his many contributions to education in the health care field. He donated a $1 million gift to the Circle of Care Foundation at Sherman Oaks Hospital
Sherman Oaks Hospital
Sherman Oaks Hospital is an 153 bed acute care facility on Van Nuys Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, California. It is home of the Grossman Burn Center. SOH is owned and operated by Prime Healthcare Services, a hospital management company located in Victorville, California...
in Sherman Oaks, CA which helps support burn survivors, seniors, and family care givers. The American College of Cardiology
American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology is a nonprofit medical association established in 1949 to advocate for quality cardiovascular care through education, research promotion, development and application of standards and guidelines, and to influence health care policy...
in Bethesda, Maryland, designated Dr. Reddy a Member of The Order of William Harvey, in recognition of and appreciation for outstanding support of the College's Endowment Programs. He also received the National Citizen's Award from the Hon'ble Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda, the Prime Minister of India.
Controversy
On July 8, 2007, the Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
ran a news story that alleged that the policies of Prime HealthCare Services, Inc. resulted in higher than average profits at the possible cost of patient care. According to the Times story, "When Reddy's company, Prime Healthcare Services Inc., takes over a hospital, it typically cancels insurance contracts, allowing the hospital to collect steeply higher reimbursements. It has suspended services — such as chemotherapy treatments, mental health care and birthing centers — that patients need but aren't lucrative.... On four occasions since 2002, inspectors have found that Prime Healthcare facilities failed to meet minimum federal safety standards, placing their Medicare funding at risk."
In 2005, two former nurses at Desert Valley Hospital won a lawsuit in which they claimed they were improperly fired after they accused hospital management of providing inadequate care to save money and Reddy of repeatedly reporting to work while under the influence of alcohol. In February 1999, Reddy was arrested for allegedly attacking Dr. Harry Lifschutz at Desert Valley Medical Group. Reddy jumped over a desk in the doctor's waiting room and allegedly attempted to choke him and take a laptop from Lifschutz's office.
Prime Healthcare Services
Prime Healthcare Services
Prime Healthcare Services is a hospital management company in Southern California. Founded by Dr. Prem Reddy in 2001, it is based in Ontario, California...
is under investigation by the United States Department of Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
and the California Department of Justice
California Department of Justice
The California Department of Justice is the department in the California executive branch under the leadership of the California Attorney General.-Description:It has 5344 employees and a budget of $791 million...
about concerns over a reported spike in septicemia. The investigation centers around whether the spike in septicemia represents a large public health issue or multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud
Medicare Fraud
In the United States, Medicare fraud is a general term that refers to an individual or corporation that seeks to collect Medicare health care reimbursement under false pretenses...
. Six Prime hospitals ranked in the 99th percentile of U.S. hospitals for septicemia and five were in the 95th percentile.