Voters should approve Measure H to enhance Tri-City Medical Center
With only a few days left to cast ballots, voters in the Tri-City Healthcare District have a unique opportunity to approve a partnership with Sharp HealthCare for the provision of high-quality health care services at the publicly-owned Tri-City Medical Center.
I had the privilege of representing the Grossmont Healthcare District in just such a partnership with Sharp HealthCare. I saw firsthand the significant direct benefits it continues to bring to the residents served by Sharp Grossmont Hospital, with Sharp investing hundreds of millions of dollars since 1991 to repair aging facilities and improve local access to emergency and specialty medical services.
Throughout that time I witnessed Sharp’s partnership with the community markedly improve the East Region hospital’s ability to provide advanced patient care to my fellow residents.
This is why Measure H in Tri-City, on next Tuesday’s ballot, has gained broad support from local doctors, nurses, EMTs, firefighters, veterans, elected officials, and other community members throughout San Diego County.
The support for Measure H is so strong, that no one even submitted a ballot argument against it.
Since 1961, residents of Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, and surrounding communities have relied on Tri-City Medical Center for life-saving emergency care and comprehensive health services. But constant changes across the health care industry have forced hospitals to evolve and adapt, while searching for much needed efficiencies. As a result, the Tri-City Healthcare District board of directors voted unanimously last December to pursue a partnership with Sharp. The board understood that a world-class, not-for-profit health care provider with extensive local operational expertise could manage Tri-City Medical Center more effectively and efficiently than local government.
Voter approval would lease Tri-City’s assets to Sharp HealthCare for 30 years, triggering the region’s largest medical provider to invest $100 million in the facility, while the public retains ownership of the community-owned hospital, all without raising local taxes.
The partnership would also facilitate replacement of aging hospital equipment with the latest, state-of-the-art medical technology, while increasing the quality and variety of health care treatments offered locally in North County. As well, previously eliminated health care services like maternity care would be restored, thus bolstering Tri-City Medical Center’s ability to attract and retain high-quality doctors, nurses and medical specialists.
I encourage the voters of the Tri-City area to vote yes on Measure H, thus significantly improving local access to high-quality medical care by establishing a vital healthcare partnership in our North County communities.
Stand with us by voting Yes on H.
