Sharp and Tri-City partnering to transform North County care

North County is on the verge of a significant transformation in how health care is delivered. With voter authorization now secured and pending certification of the election later this month, Sharp HealthCare and Tri-City Healthcare District can move forward with a 30-year partnership and lease agreement.

The affiliation allows Sharp to provide high-quality health care services as Sharp Tri-City Medical Center beginning July 1, marking a major step toward strengthening and modernizing care for the North County communities Tri-City has served for more than six decades.

Under the affiliation, Sharp assumes operational responsibility for Tri-City Medical Center’s assets and liabilities and commits to investing at least $100 million to modernize facilities, expand services and enhance the patient experience. The investments prioritize upgrading Tri-City’s electronic health records and business systems, reestablishing key services previously offered in North County, such as labor and delivery, and exploring opportunities to grow into new clinical specialties.

“This strategic partnership represents a shared commitment to strengthen health care access and quality for North County,” says Chris Howard, president and CEO of Sharp HealthCare. “By combining Tri-City’s deep community roots with Sharp’s integrated network, we will deliver the extraordinary, comprehensive care patients deserve and expect. It’s what we call The Sharp Experience.”

Comprehensive care across San Diego County

The model for this partnership follows Sharp’s successful long-term affiliation with the Grossmont Healthcare District, which began in 1991 and helped shape Sharp Grossmont Hospital into one of the region’s leading providers of comprehensive care. Similar to that agreement, the Tri-City Healthcare District is leasing its hospital campus and facilities to Sharp, which is overseeing daily operations.

“At its core, this decision is about caring for our community,” says Dr. Gene Ma, president and CEO of Tri-City Medical Center. “This affiliation allows us to reinvest in our hospital, strengthen essential services, and continue serving North County with compassion and a clear focus on the needs of our community.”

What this means for North County residents

Health care is arguably the most critical infrastructure in any thriving community. At one point or another in nearly every individual’s lifetime, it’s the one thing they are guaranteed to need. When that time comes, North County residents can expect the best in care — The Sharp Experience — to be available locally.

For patients and families, the benefits of this partnership are substantial. The affiliation between Sharp and Tri-City:

• Facilitates the replacement of aging equipment with the latest advanced medical technologies

• Enables Sharp to invest $100+ million to repair and upgrade Tri-City Medical Center facilities and campus infrastructure

• Enhances the quality and variety of health care treatments offered locally in North County, including cancer treatment

• Expands the nationally recognized maternity care of Sharp Mary Birch to Tri-City

• Attracts and retains high-quality Tri-City Medical Center doctors, nurses and medical specialists

A shared vision for North County’s health

As North County continues to grow, so does the need for advanced, comprehensive medical care — from exceptional women’s and newborn services for young families to leading-edge cancer care for patients who currently must travel far from home for treatment. This partnership aims to make Sharp Tri-City Medical Center a leading medical campus, expanding access to care and ensuring that residents receive the best possible treatment within their communities.

Above all, it honors Tri-City’s identity as a community-built hospital. For 64 years, Tri-City has served all who walk through its doors. With this partnership, it will continue to do so for generations to come.