Scripps Health on Tuesday unveiled plans for $2.6 billion in building improvements at its hospital campuses across San Diego County, including a replacement tower at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest.
A new, 710,000-square foot, 12-story acute care building at Scripps Mercy is the largest single project. Construction of the replacement tower is expected to begin in 2022 and finish in 2027. Most of the rooms in the hospital will be private upon completion.
Other improvements planned over the next decade include:
- Seismic retrofitting of the acute care buildings at Scripps Mercy Chula Vista and Scripps Green Hospitals. Retrofitting will begin in 2022 at Scripps Mercy Chula Vista and in 2027 at Scripps Green.
- Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla will expand with a new seven-story, 401,000 square-foot tower that includes a women’s health center. Construction of the new tower is expected to begin in 2021 and conclude in 2024.
- Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas will get a new 185,000-square-foot, three-story acute care building and a new three-story, 68,000-square-foot medical office building. Construction of the new acute care building is expected to begin in 2021 and conclude in 2024.
Scripps said that because more and more care is being delivered on an outpatient basis, the new acute care facilities will be designed for the most seriously ill patients. More rooms will be private, and nurses will be placed closer to patients and have more direct access to equipment and supplies.
“This is our vision to build the health care system of the future — starting today,” said Chris Van Gorder, Scripps president and CEO. “Our focus is on delivering the right care in the right setting that reflects the changing health care needs of the communities we serve across the San Diego region.”
The new projects will be financed by operating revenues, borrowing and philanthropy.
Scripps Health is a nonprofit health care system that treats more than 700,000 patients annually at its five acute-care hospital campuses and 27 outpatient centers and clinics.