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Tri‑City CEO says hospital is cash‑flow positive again; partnership with UCSD fell through
Summary
Tri‑City Medical Center CEO Jean Ma told Carlsbad council the hospital has been cash‑flow positive for nine months, described plans for a new psychiatric health facility (PUF), a minimally invasive spine surgery partnership and an ED remodel, and said a proposed affiliation with UC San Diego Health changed terms and did not proceed.
Tri‑City Medical Center President and CEO Jean Ma updated the Carlsbad City Council on Oct. 8, saying the hospital has returned to positive cash flow after severe COVID‑era losses and is pursuing partnership and service expansions aimed at keeping specialty care in North County.
Ma said Tri‑City has been cash‑flow positive for nine consecutive months after having lost roughly $5 million per month at its worst point. The hospital pursued due diligence with several potential partners; a planned affiliation with UC San Diego Health was negotiated but ultimately did not move forward because the terms changed from what had initially been proposed, Ma said.
Ma highlighted three near‑term developments: a minimally invasive spine surgery partnership that will complete a new surgical center early next year; a psychiatric health facility (PUF) that would be the first PUF licensed in San Diego County and is intended to fill gaps between crisis stabilization and inpatient care (the proposed PUF has 16 beds and an expected average length of stay of about 11 days); and an emergency department remodel intended to improve operational flow and reduce ambulance and officer wait times.
Council members asked how the PUF differs from existing services, whether the hospital will reopen labor and delivery services, and what timeline the board anticipates for a definitive partner agreement. Ma said PUFs provide a level of care between crisis stabilization and full inpatient units, and that the county will help fund the PUF under a cost‑plus model to make the service sustainable. Reopening labor and delivery was a key factor in earlier negotiations; Ma said some potential partners had committed to maternal‑fetal services while others did not, and the board will continue to seek a partner that commits to restoring maternal services in North County.
Ma estimated a letter of intent with a potential partner within four to six months and a definitive agreement in roughly eight additional months, acknowledging the timeline could be longer. He invited council members to tour the facility once it reopens (estimates provided during the meeting suggested early next year for several projects).
The council thanked Ma, asked for continued dialogue and for updates as the hospital finalizes partnerships and opens new services.
