Pomerado Hospital to expand services if Palomar Health Downtown Campus closes

Two more “community conversations” will be held next week prior to the Palomar Health Board of Directors voting on a proposal to close the Palomar Health Downtown Campus and shift some of its services to Pomerado Hospital in Poway.

The board will vote during a special meeting on Wednesday, June 24 on the proposal that could be implemented by this fall.

In addition to Pomerado offering more services, most of the campus’ remaining services will go to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido. Some might be shared with other nearby facilities, including the Rancho Bernardo Outpatient Surgical Center on an “as needed” basis.

The 319-bed downtown campus provides comprehensive care to more than 22,000 inpatients annually, according to the district’s website. Medical and surgical services include a birth center, neonatal intensive care unit, pediatric care unit (a partnership with Rady Children’s Hospital), oncology treatment, stereotactic radiosurgery, rehabilitation services and the Center for Behavioral Health. Per presented information it also offers cardiac rehabilitation, an infusion center, non-clinical services, outpatient occupational/physical therapy, perinatology, radiation therapy and a sleep lab.

Palomar Health President and CEO Robert Hemker spoke on Monday in Pomerado Hospital to 50-plus locals and employees who attended the first of four community conversations. A second gathering was Tuesday night at the Palomar Health Downtown Campus (former Palomar Medical Center before the new facility opened a few years ago).

Five of the seven board members were present Monday so they could directly hear the public’s comments, but they did not participate in the discussion. Hemker addressed questions and concerns posed, including those about moving the NICU, district finances, consolidation of behavioral health services and a reduction in beds, transportation issues for seniors and those who use public transit, increased parking at the already busy PMC lots, PMC’s and Pomerado’s overcrowded emergency rooms and long wait times, availability of inpatient beds at PMC and Pomerado, speed of the process (especially the short period for public comment), three shelled PMC floors and promises to keep the downtown campus open.

Two more sessions are planned so the public can learn details about the proposal and share their concerns. They are 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 22 in the California Center for the Arts’ Salon 5, 340 N. Escondido Blvd. in Escondido; and 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 23 in Pomerado Hospital’s Conference Room C/D (third floor), 15615 Pomerado Road in Poway.

For details on the proposal, go to PalomarHealth.org/OurFuture.

Palomar Health officials said the closure is due to many factors surrounding the health care industry’s adjustment to the future. These include Triple Aim (goals of access, quality and cost), new legislation, increasing costs and declining reimbursement. Officials say the proposal — that one audience member on Monday night said appeared to be “a done deal” — will better meet the community’s long-term health care needs.

Hemker said many meetings have been held over past months with 50 participants representing 16 multidisciplinary teams throughout the public health care district.

According to Hemker, the savings — at least $20 million annually for operational expenses — will allow Palomar Health to redirect the money toward other goals, such as increasing parking at PMC and opening its shelled floors. But since those endeavors will be pursued when the need arises, he could not provide a timeline or guarantee they would be in the near future.

Officials said neither Palomar Medical Center nor Pomerado Hospital consistently operate at ideal capacity, so a consolation of services would mean they are better used. In addition to $20 million annual operating costs, the downtown campus needs $172 million in upgrades over the next five years due to its aging infrastructure and information technology systems. The amount does not include cosmetic changes, such as new flooring and paint, and the district reportedly does not have the financial means to do upgrades while “losing” $20 million a year on the campus. In all, the closure could mean a savings of $272.4 million over the next five years.

As for employee impact, officials estimate 60 to 75 benefitted (full time) employees and 180 to 220 per diem (part time) employees could lose their jobs. Hemker said there could be a hold on filling non-essential positions, limit on the use of travelers and per diem workers, and there might be an increase in float pool positions plus additional training opportunities.