One of the more critical issues facing voters on the June 6th election is Proposition F. The measure was placed on the ballot by the Tri-City Healthcare District's (TCHD) Board of Directors, at its March 8th meeting.
After more than two years of planning, including six months of actively seeking community input, the Board unanimously approved placing the $596 million Tri-City Medical Center Repair, Improvement and Emergency Care Measure on the ballot.
The measure, if approved by two-thirds of the District's voters, would increase the square footage of the Hospital from 496,000 square feet to 757,000 square feet and increase patient rooms to 335. Additionally, a 220,000 square foot Outpatient Facility would be built contiguous with the Hospital. One-third of the current Medical Center would be renovated under the plan, which would keep the Medical Center at its present site in Oceanside.
Based on the District's 150-page Master Facilities Plan, released in early April, the new facility would comply with state-mandated earthquake standards required by 2013. It would also relieve TCMC's overcrowded Emergency Department which is the 2nd busiest in San Diego County. The plan addresses anticipated population growth in Coastal North County and will upgrade the infrastructure to accommodate advances in medical technology, safety and security concerns, and efficiencies in energy conservation and in operations.
If approved, the measure would add $23.40 per $100,000 assessed value, not appraised value, on real estate in the District. The current median assessed home value in the District is around $205,000. As such, the annual tax would be just over $46.80, or $3.90 per month. The hospital District includes Oceanside, Vista and portions of Carlsbad.
"As one of the doctors involved in this critical planning process for the future and survival of our Hospital, I can say unequivocally that this effort is supported by a broad coalition of doctors, nurses and community members because we recognize the urgent need to repair and upgrade Tri-City Medical Center," said Emergency Department Medical Director Dr. Richard Burruss. "We absolutely must ensure that our community and its residents have the access to the emergency and quality health services that they deserve."
Another reason to get voter approval sooner is due to increases in the cost of hospital construction. Over the last several years, construction and renovation costs have skyrocketed, partially due to the basic forces of supply and demand. Demand for meeting seismic standards by all hospitals in the state and delays with state regulatory agency review and approvals have lead to increases in costs. As a result, the Medical Center estimates that for every month the hospital delays starting repairs and upgrades, it costs an estimated $3 million in additional construction costs.
In reviewing the plan, Chief of Staff, Dr. Donald Ponec points out that the new facility would make it far easier to attract top notch physicians and nurses who specialize in both general and specialty care. "As our current staff ages and retires, it is becoming increasingly more and more difficult to recruit new physicians and medical staff," Ponec stated. “When you look at an aging building with all the related problems associated with that, plus the high cost of living in Coastal North County, our experience is that new, and even experienced, doctors look elsewhere to establish their practice," he said. "This phenomenon robs our community of the best of the best."
No portion of the bond will be used for administrators' or staff salaries, according to the proposed Bond Resolution. The Resolution also calls for an Independent Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee to ensure that expenditures match what the District has proposed doing.
From an economic development standpoint, communities benefit when quality healthcare facilities are within easy reach of residences. Real estate values increase similarly to the way they do with communities that have quality schools and neighborhood amenities such as good parks and libraries. They also benefit not only from the tax base that's created, but also from the business that the Hospital, employees, contractors and patients generate with other local establishments.
After more than two years of planning, including six months of actively seeking community input, the Board unanimously approved placing the $596 million Tri-City Medical Center Repair, Improvement and Emergency Care Measure on the ballot.
The measure, if approved by two-thirds of the District's voters, would increase the square footage of the Hospital from 496,000 square feet to 757,000 square feet and increase patient rooms to 335. Additionally, a 220,000 square foot Outpatient Facility would be built contiguous with the Hospital. One-third of the current Medical Center would be renovated under the plan, which would keep the Medical Center at its present site in Oceanside.
Based on the District's 150-page Master Facilities Plan, released in early April, the new facility would comply with state-mandated earthquake standards required by 2013. It would also relieve TCMC's overcrowded Emergency Department which is the 2nd busiest in San Diego County. The plan addresses anticipated population growth in Coastal North County and will upgrade the infrastructure to accommodate advances in medical technology, safety and security concerns, and efficiencies in energy conservation and in operations.
If approved, the measure would add $23.40 per $100,000 assessed value, not appraised value, on real estate in the District. The current median assessed home value in the District is around $205,000. As such, the annual tax would be just over $46.80, or $3.90 per month. The hospital District includes Oceanside, Vista and portions of Carlsbad.
"As one of the doctors involved in this critical planning process for the future and survival of our Hospital, I can say unequivocally that this effort is supported by a broad coalition of doctors, nurses and community members because we recognize the urgent need to repair and upgrade Tri-City Medical Center," said Emergency Department Medical Director Dr. Richard Burruss. "We absolutely must ensure that our community and its residents have the access to the emergency and quality health services that they deserve."
Another reason to get voter approval sooner is due to increases in the cost of hospital construction. Over the last several years, construction and renovation costs have skyrocketed, partially due to the basic forces of supply and demand. Demand for meeting seismic standards by all hospitals in the state and delays with state regulatory agency review and approvals have lead to increases in costs. As a result, the Medical Center estimates that for every month the hospital delays starting repairs and upgrades, it costs an estimated $3 million in additional construction costs.
In reviewing the plan, Chief of Staff, Dr. Donald Ponec points out that the new facility would make it far easier to attract top notch physicians and nurses who specialize in both general and specialty care. "As our current staff ages and retires, it is becoming increasingly more and more difficult to recruit new physicians and medical staff," Ponec stated. “When you look at an aging building with all the related problems associated with that, plus the high cost of living in Coastal North County, our experience is that new, and even experienced, doctors look elsewhere to establish their practice," he said. "This phenomenon robs our community of the best of the best."
No portion of the bond will be used for administrators' or staff salaries, according to the proposed Bond Resolution. The Resolution also calls for an Independent Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee to ensure that expenditures match what the District has proposed doing.
From an economic development standpoint, communities benefit when quality healthcare facilities are within easy reach of residences. Real estate values increase similarly to the way they do with communities that have quality schools and neighborhood amenities such as good parks and libraries. They also benefit not only from the tax base that's created, but also from the business that the Hospital, employees, contractors and patients generate with other local establishments.