SAN MARCOS, Calif.; June 5, 2006 – “The most important service to consumers is the service of health care because we are directly affected by it every day,” said Leonard Berry, a distinguished professor in the Lowry Mays College and Graduate School of Business. "The most important thing is there is so much opportunity to improve heath care service with some new perspectives and ideas, but it will take some real courage to change the system. In order to improve, every party has to be willing to change and embrace new ideas," Berry said.

San Diego North is home to innovation, and this includes health care.  “We have a number of organizations committed to improving the health status of its communities by encouraging wellness, providing care to the ill, providing palliative care, actively collaborating on health initiatives, and supporting the improved economic health of the region,” said Gary Knight President & CEO of San Diego North Economic Development Council. 

One of the organizations is North County Health Services who provide health care to an underserved population. "Our mission is to improve the health status of our diverse communities by providing quality healthcare that is comprehensive, affordable, and culturally sensitive," stated Irma Cota MPH, Chief Executive Oficer.  “ We have facilities that cover most of North County which includes the cities and communities of Carlsbad; Del Mar; Encinitas (including Cardiff By The Sea, Leucadia, and Olivenhain); Escondido; Fallbrook/Bonsall; Oceanside; Camp Pendleton; Pala/Pauma Valley; Poway; Ramona; Rancho Bemardo; Rancho Penasquitos/Carmel Mountain Ranch; San Marcos; Solana Beach; Valley Center and Vista.”   http://www.nchs-health.org/

Tri-City Medical Center is another of the health care providers leading the way to improve services throughout the region.  On June 6th the voters in Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista and parts of San Marcos will have the opportunity to vote on Proposition F, a ballot measure authorizing the issuance of $596,000,000 in bonds to build a new hospital that will meet State of California seismic requirements (an unfunded mandate) and provide expanded services for local residents. For almost two years, the Board of Tri-City Healthcare District (TCHD), along with key physician leaders from its Medical Staff, senior management and expert consultants have been planning for the future of the district's medical facilities as part of a larger strategic planning process to meet the needs of the community. Tri-City Medical Center received official notice on 3/22/06 from the Professional Research Corporation (PRC), reporting that TCMC was named a 2006 Excellence in Healthcare 4-Star Award winner.  This award places TCMC in the top 25% of hospitals in the nation who participate in the PRC survey.  The results are from our physician satisfaction survey and the award category is "physician perception of nursing care".  http://www.tricitymed.org/

A third North County Resource is the San Diego Business Healthcare Connection (BHC). The San Diego Business Healthcare Connection is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to increasing the number of employers offering health benefits and the number of low-income working families receiving health benefits by offering no-cost, unbiased information, education, resources and assistance.  The idea for and the development of the BHC came from the combined efforts of the business community, County government, health care providers and payers, consumers, consumer advocates, and private foundations. The membership of the Board of Directors is a reflection of this community project. The San Diego Business Healthcare Connection is the leader, valued partner and resource to the business community in working to achieve healthcare coverage for all San Diego workers and their families.  http://www.sdbhc.org

About the San Diego North Economic Development Council