By HFT Staff

After open public discussion and a unanimous board vote, Tri-City Healthcare District (Tri-City or District) announced that UC San Diego Health has been selected as the District’s future healthcare partner. A Joint Powers Agreement will now be co-developed that allows UC San Diego Health to provide administrative, clinical and operational management for all healthcare services with direct input and guidance from a diverse community board. Under the future agreement, UC San Diego Health will partner with Tri-City’s Board, medical staff, employees and the community to offer the region affordable, accessible and high-quality healthcare services across the full range of specialties. 

Once a final agreement is in place, UC San Diego Health expects to support and strengthen Tri-City’s full-service community hospital vision and ongoing stewardship of community healthcare needs through investment in the medical campus, clinical programs and provider network. UC San Diego Health will collaborate with Tri-City’s existing staff and regional providers to develop and supplement specialty programs and broaden primary and specialty care networks. 

In collaboration with Tri-City’s medical staff and regional providers, UC San Diego Health plans to expand new and existing specialty programs at Tri-City, including services for pregnancy and gynecology, cancer, cardiovascular, neurosurgical, behavioral health and other needs. 

Labor and Delivery will be an immediate focal point of the future agreement, with the goal of re-establishing the service, enhancing the capabilities of the hospital and ultimately positioning the campus as a destination center for pregnancy care in North County. Leveraging the capabilities of UC San Diego Health’s obstetrics and gynecology program, UC San Diego Health will immediately begin the planning process to establish a wide array of programs and services at Tri-City, including eventually reopening the Labor and Delivery service. 

As the only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in San Diego, UC San Diego Health also hopes to extend its capabilities to Tri-City to provide patients with access to the latest advancements in cancer care. The redevelopment plans for Tri-City could include services including infusion center, radiation oncology, cancer clinics, clinical trials, genetic counseling and testing, and patient counseling and therapy. 

Under the Joint Powers Agreement, UC San Diego Health has proposed to assume rights and title to District-owned assets as well as day-to-day operational responsibility for the operation of healthcare services for the District. The intention is to create a nine-member Community Board, which will be comprised of two appointees from the District Board, two members from the Tri-City medical staff and five members appointed by the UC San Diego Health Executive Governing Board. The Community Board would provide advice and recommendations to UC San Diego Health on strategic, operational and financial decisions relevant to its growth strategies in the District’s communities. Providers would participate in an open medical staff.