IRVINE - The former Irvine Regional Hospital and Medical Center reopened this week as Hoag Hospital Irvine, whose renovations came in so far under budget that officials decided to add more features.
"As we got favorable savings we then redeployed those dollars to increase the scope'' of the renovations, said Robert Braithwaite, the hospital's chief administrative officer.
The depressed economy led to less expensive bids from contractors for the $84-million project, Braithwaite said.