UCLA to Oversee 6 Entertainment Group Health Clinics

UCLA announced Wednesday that it has signed a deal to oversee operation of six health clinics run by the Motion Picture and Television Fund, which provides health services for people in the entertainment industry.

UCLA and the Fund are already partnering to develop a geriatric psychiatry unit at the Fund's Wasserman Campus in Woodland Hills.

Under the agreement, UCLA Health System will take over the leases for the clinics, and the 43 doctors at the facilities will join the UCLA Faculty Practice Group. The Fund will continue to operate its 40-bed long-term care unit, 30-bed memory impairment unit and all other social service programs.

"We couldn't have found a better partner than UCLA Health System to future-proof the provision of high-quality health care for our entertainment- industry community -- care that they deserve and have come to expect from our doctors," according to Bob Beitcher, CEO of MPTF. "UCLA has committed to operating the health centers exclusively for the use of industry members, with the same physician group and same clinical staff at the same locations. This is a winner for all stakeholders."

According to MPTF, the fund provides health care to 60,000 industry members and their families.

The partnership is expected to take effect next spring when wording of the operating agreement is finalized and receives approval from the organizations' respective boards.

-- City News Service