Providence Health System, the Seattle-based owner of Saint Joseph and Holy Cross medical centers in the Valley, is in preliminary discussions about opening a hospital in the Santa Clarita Valley, an official for the health care group said Tuesday. Hospital administrators have been looking at several sites in the Santa Clarita area although talks are in the very early stages, said Providence spokesman Dan Boyle. “It’s only been discussions,” he said. “We can’t confirm any specific sites.” Over the past few years, Providence has been aggressively targeting the Santa Clarita Valley, which has just one acute care hospital, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial. Providence in October 2005 opened a full-service health center on McBean Parkway in Santa Clarita and recently launched an advertising campaign focusing on Holy Cross Medical Center. City officials would not confirm that it is in talks with Providence about possible sites.
