Health Center Partners of Southern California Member Organization Announces Prenatal Services Continue, Yet VCC Patients Will No Longer Deliver at Tri-City Medical Center
Vista, CA September, 2021—Vista Community Clinic (VCC), a federally qualified health center and member organization of Health Center Partners of Southern California providing affordable, high quality health care to more than 70,000 community residents throughout North San Diego, Orange and Riverside Counties, today announced it will be transferring its Labor and Delivery services from Tri-City Medical Center, in Oceanside, Calif., to the state-of-the-art Palomar Medical Center Escondido, effective October 16, 2021. The move, necessitating that all VCC patients deliver out of the Escondido-based Palomar Health facility beginning October 16, was approved by its Board of Directors and announced to VCC’s obstetrician /gynecologists earlier this week.
According to Dr. Sarah Fatland, VCC Chief Medical Officer, the transfer brings more advanced resources to both patients and staff, who will benefit from the personalized attention, exceptional care and more recently upgraded Palomar facility in Escondido, which includes a dedicated birth center with 22 beds adaptable for labor and delivery, OB triage, pre-op/PACU and antepartum, 18 postpartum rooms, and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) that will soon be expanded to 11 beds.
The Escondido-based center is currently staffed with two OB/GYNs and two dedicated anesthesiologists, both providing 24/7 coverage, as well as nurses accredited by AWHONN (Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses) and certified in NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program). Palomar Medical Center Escondido has been distinguished by Blue Shield California with numerous awards, including its MDC for Early Implementers Award (for Expanded Breastfeeding Measures), MDC Super Star Award: Small Birth Volume Hospitals, and 2020 California Maternity Honor Roll.
“We are very grateful for our long-standing partnership with Tri-City Medical Center but also welcome a new chapter in our history with much anticipation and excitement,” comments Dr. Fatland. “We believe this move will afford Vista Community Clinic patients a higher caliber experience for their labor and delivery, and we are committed to helping ensure a smooth and seamless transition for everyone. Our local, prenatal programs for routine and diagnostic care will remain intact, so patients will enjoy uninterrupted services for their ongoing needs.”
VCC patients will continue to receive comprehensive prenatal services at VCC. Once they are ready to deliver, or in the event of emergency circumstances, VCC (in partnership with Palomar Health) will make hospital transfer to Palomar Medical Center Escondido available to our patients if needed..
Dr. Fatland explains, VCC will continue to see all patients whether or not they have insurance , for a full array of services including primary care, pediatrics, prenatal and women’s health, optometry, chiropractic care, dental health, podiatry, acupuncture and behavioral health services.
For more information call 760-631-5000 ext. 1139
About Health Center Partners .. A premier consortium of primary health care organizations, Health Center Partners (HCP) is the voice and advocate for its members who serve the health needs of communities throughout southern California. We serve as a catalyst for transforming and enhancing primary care by helping our members deliver quality health care to the safety net population in Southern California, through innovative programs, resources, and advocacy. A family of companies, HCP includes a 17-membership organization of Federally Qualified Health Centers, Indian Health Services Organizations, both urban and sovereign, and Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, collectively serving 966,000+ patients each year, for 3.7 million patient visits each year, at 160 practice sites across San Diego, Riverside, Imperial counties, with the seventh largest provider group in the region. For more information, visit https://hcpsocal.org/, become a fan on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
About Vista Community Clinic … With nine state-of-the-art locations in North San Diego, Orange and Riverside Counties, VCC provides affordable, high quality health care to more than 70,000 community residents. Services offered by VCC include primary care, pediatrics, prenatal and women’s health, optometry, chiropractic care, dental health, podiatry, acupuncture and behavioral health services. VCC also offers a wide array of community health education programs which are free and open to all community residents. VCC is recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, and is the recipient of the HRSA National Quality Leader Seal for exceeding national clinical quality benchmarks. For more information call 760.631.5000 or visit www.vcc.org.
