Palomar Health and UC San Diego Health have completed an agreement to form a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to stabilize and enhance patient care in North San Diego County as of July 1, 2026. The new health system operates under the name "Palomar UC San Diego Health" and serves a region of nearly one million people.
Representing a novel model for health care delivery in the United States, Palomar UC San Diego Health combines the strengths of a community-based health system and an academic health system under a single unified governance structure.
"Palomar UC San Diego Health creates a new blueprint for health care in California," said Patty Maysent, CEO of UC San Diego Health. "This new system, focused on North San Diego County, will grow and enhance health care services while offering increased access to advanced specialty care, close to home."
With joint operations now underway, the new health system represents the trusted, community-based care of the former Palomar Health with the national expertise and rankings of UC San Diego Health, the region's only academic health system.
"The new joint powers authority with UC San Diego Health marks a defining moment for health care in North San Diego County," said Diane Hansen, CEO of the JPA. "This new health system allows us to preserve and bolster local care while expanding access to expertise, innovation and new services that will benefit our communities for decades to come."
Understanding the JPA
A JPA is a legal entity that allows two public health agencies to jointly run hospitals and clinics, share decisions, and improve care for the community. In this case, this JPA formed with the former Palomar Health and the existing UC San Diego Health.
CEOs Patty Maysent, Diane Hansen, and the JPA Board will oversee Palomar UC San Diego Health's long-term strategy from the launch of new clinical services and building expansions to investments in new equipment and projects.
The new JPA logo. Photo credit: Palomar UC San Diego Health
Oversight of the JPA includes the joint operation of both the Escondido and Poway hospitals among other health facilities and resources.
The Palomar UC San Diego Health Authority and UC San Diego Health are two separate health systems, maintaining separate licenses and independent medical staffs.
Future Plans
Planning for new health services is underway. Existing patients of the former Palomar Health will continue to receive care from the doctors and care teams they know and trust.
New patient services will be announced on the Palomar UC San Diego Health website. Information about access to UC San Diego Health specialists and a broader, more connected network of care are forthcoming.
"Early priorities include developing two shelled floors at the Escondido hospital to support the expansion of destination health care services," said Maysent. "This investment will significantly expand the depth and breadth of specialized care available in North San Diego County, including advanced cancer, cardiovascular and other complex clinical services."
Representatives from Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, the region's only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center, will collaborate with cancer care teams at the Escondido campus to develop the new services with more details for patients expected in Summer 2026.
Notes of Gratitude
Maysent and Hansen expressed deep gratitude to UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla and the University of California Board of Regents for enabling the formation of the JPA.
JPA leadership also recognized and thanked the Palomar Health District Board, the Palomar UC San Diego Health Board, and local, state, and federal elected officials in North San Diego County and Southern Riverside County for their shared vision, partnership and support in making the new health system possible.
About Palomar UC San Diego Health
Palomar UC San Diego Health is a new regional health system dedicated to providing exceptional, patient-centered care for the communities of North San Diego County and the surrounding regions. Formed through a Joint Powers Authority between Palomar Health and UC San Diego Health on July 1, 2026, the health system brings together the strengths of a public community health system and a nationally ranked academic health system to expand access to specialized care, innovative treatments and leading physicians. The health system is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality care while investing in the future health of the region.
About UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health, the region's only academic health system, is dedicated to delivering outstanding patient care through commitment to community, groundbreaking research and inspired teaching. For 2025-26, U.S. News & World Report ranked UC San Diego Health as the best hospital system in San Diego and among the nation's best in nine adult medical and surgical specialties, including cancer, cardiology, geriatrics, neurology and pulmonology.
The 1,011-bed health system includes three hospitals — Hillcrest Medical Center, Jacobs Medical Center and East Campus Medical Center — as well as Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, Moores Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Koman Family Outpatient Pavilion, McGrath Outpatient Pavilion, and Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute. The health system also includes primary care and same-day services at clinics throughout Southern California.
