Public Notice of Community Hearing

Change in Service: Closure and Relocation of Senior Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit

In compliance with California Health and Safety Code Section 1255.25 and Senate Bill 1300 (SB 1300), UC San Diego Health invites the public to attend a community hearing regarding a proposed change in hospital services.

Public Hearing Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4190 Front Street, San Diego, CA, 92103
Parking: Parking will be available in the adjacent ACE Parking Lot

Proposed Change: UC San Diego Health is proposing the closure and relocation of the Senior Behavioral Health (SBH) Inpatient Unit at Hillcrest Medical Center, located at 200 W. Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92103. The unit’s services will be relocated to East Campus Medical Center, located at 6655 Alvarado Road, San Diego, CA 92120, with the move planned for August 2025.

Hearing Purpose: This hearing provides an opportunity for community members, patients, families, and providers to share feedback about the closure and relocation of the SBH Inpatient Unit.

Details of the Change Include:

  • Closure and relocation of the 14-bed inpatient unit for seniors experiencing behavioral health conditions at Hillcrest to a consolidated behavioral health hub at East Campus.
  • Continued availability of inpatient psychiatric care for adults at both Hillcrest (age >18) and East Campus (age >50).
  • Integration with expanded outpatient programs, partial hospitalization, and home-based care at East Campus.
  • Impacts to less than 50 employment positions, with reassignment efforts underway.

Public Comment: The public can provide comment in one of the following ways:

  1. Attend the meeting in person.
  2. Participate remotely via Zoom:
    • Zoom Meeting ID: 899 3753 3157
    • Registration is required: https://bit.ly/3SAS1do
  3. Submit written comments prior to the meeting.

Agenda:

  • 6 p.m. – Welcome and opening remarks, Steve Koh, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief of Clinical Psychiatry, UC San Diego Health
  • 6:20 p.m. – In-person public comment (3 minutes per speaker)
  • 7 p.m. – Virtual public comment (3 minutes per speaker) o 7:50 p.m. – Comment wrap-up and closing remarks
  • 8 p.m. – Adjourn

Written public comments can be submitted via email to govtcomm@ucsd.edu or by completing the online form at https://bit.ly/SBHUPublic

Questions? Please contact UC San Diego Health at 858-657-7000. More information and updates can be found at: https://health.ucsd.edu/policies-notices