Issues of Importance

By Jerry Kaufman

I support the hospital district's efforts to expand services to residents while keeping these costs at a minimum.

Pomerado Hospital is well into its update and expansion of facilities, which will provide state of the art services to patients residing in the southern part of the district. I support their efforts, which should increase use of services and improve their long term profitability.

Palomar Pomerado Health district has the unique advantage of having neighborhood clinics in close proximity to both hospitals. I support any effort that would expand extended hours outpatient care for non-emergency visits in these local clinics to relieve this overload on our hospital emergency rooms.

Palomar Hospital has been impacted by delays that will have a variety of effects on completing the goals that were originally set for the existing campus in a timely manner. I support the district's cooperation with private developers in an effort to move up the timeline for improvements and expansion at the downtown site as we approach completion of Palomar West.

The demand for inpatient beds will continue to increase as population increases, and I support the district in its cooperative arrangement with Kaiser to facilitate as many patient beds as possible by the time Palomar West is ready to open. I would support prudent consideration of other such arrangements should the opportunities present themselves, as patient care must be our top priority.