Palomar Health gives only 24-hour notice for public forum on UCSD partnership

Palomar Health in North County will host a “public town hall” on Tuesday evening, the medical provider announced on its social media channels at 6 p.m. Monday.

It was not clear why the public hospital district waited until 24 hours before the meeting, said to be “focused on transparency,” to tell the public about the event, which is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the first-floor conference room at Palomar Medical Center Escondido. InnoVision Marketing Group, Palomar’s contracted public relations firm, did not respond when asked late Monday afternoon for more information on the timing of public notification.

The stated goal of Tuesday’s meeting is to hear more from Palomar and UC San Diego Health executives regarding a joint powers authority that Palomar’s board approved on Oct. 22. The group would allow Palomar and UCSD to collaborate in running the inland North County health system, which includes hospitals in Escondido and Poway and a primary and specialty care medical group. Palomar decided to pursue the collaboration after facing significant financial difficulties that recently forced the organization to enter into a forbearance agreement with its lenders.

Palomar Medical Center Escondido is located at 2185 Citracado Parkway.