SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Residents in northern San Diego County can expect broader access to health care in the coming years as Scripps Health plans to build a new medical center campus in San Marcos.
The Scripps Health Board of Trustees recently approved the northern region facilities plan which includes adding a third tower to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla and constructing a new campus in San Marcos on the corner of Discovery Street and Twin Oaks Valley Road.
The plans were first announced in March. At the time, Scripps had said the new Scripps San Marcos Medical Center campus would occupy 13 acres south of State Route 78 near Twin Oaks Valley Parkway.
According to a new announcement on Thursday, Scripps Health confirmed it had purchased 15 acres of property for the new campus. It explained that San Marcos would be more convenient for patients who reside in North County or anyone else who needs care in the area.
Work on the new campus would begin with the construction of an ambulatory facility and a 120-bed acute care hospital, which would later expand to include between 200 and 230 beds, the board stated.
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Architectural rendering of the future Scripps San Marcos medical center campus. (Scripps Health) -
Architectural rendering of the future new medical office building and acute care tower on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, as viewed from Interstate 5. (Scripps Health) -
Architectural rendering of the future new medical office building and acute care tower on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, as viewed from Genesee Avenue. (Scripps Health)
The plans also mentioned moving medical staff, employees and services from Scripps Green Hospital on North Torrey Pines Road to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla on Genesee Avenue. The move would take place over the next five to 10 years and is part of the health system’s plan to build out the Scripps Memorial campus, the board said.
The board intends to build an additional medical office building in addition to a third hospital tower at Scripps Memorial. Once the office building is complete, medical staff from Scripps Green will be transitioned to the other campus, the board stated in its announcement.
“To truly finance and achieve our mission to serve patients across San Diego County, we must first secure and expand our market in the north where we have a stronger footing,” said Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of Scripps Health.
According to the board, Scripps Health did explore other options, including “rebuilding or retrofitting” Scripps Green Hospital and Geisel Pavilion. However, the existing property restrictions and height limits would prevent them from constructing what they envisioned.
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