Fool on the Hill wrote on Apr 11, 2008 4:11 AM:What wonderful news! I see the promised land! Who said that there was no value in using electronic media opportunities as catalysts to public accountability? A small step in the voter-endorsed direction.

Sardines ??? wrote on Apr 11, 2008 6:29 AM: I just finished watching Palomar Pomerado Health’s CEO Michael Covert video on You Tube. He stated 450 to 500 new employees are coming downtown and repeated it 450 to 500 new employees. How in the world are they going to fit 450 to 500 new employees in that building ???? Are they Sardines ???

Medical Village wrote on Apr 11, 2008 6:32 AM: Does Palomar Pomerado Health now concern this a Medical Village or a Destination Health Complex ?

Thank You Mr. James wrote on Apr 11, 2008 6:39 AM: Thank You, Thank You, Design Review Board member Robert James for noting that the plan to expand Palomar Medical Center calls for hospital executives' offices to be on the renovated campus. ,

Little Andy wrote on Apr 11, 2008 6:48 AM: I am no Sardines

Tina P wrote on Apr 11, 2008 6:53 AM: I hope I am moving to this building. It's closer to home. I do not mind being in this Sardines can.

To: Thank You Mr. James wrote on Apr 11, 2008 6:56 AM:It was supposed to be a New 50,000 square foot class "A" building not this Sardines can.

Question Please wrote on Apr 11, 2008 7:00 AM: Where will the money come from in 2011 their own Facility Master Plan does not even show it?

Bobby Boy wrote on Apr 11, 2008 8:30 AM:We support PPH and everything they do for our community. I am ashamed of the lame presentations that Wally, Larry and I put on. No DVD could excuse our appearance and conduct. The least Larry could have done was wear long pants and a decent shirt. And I didn't know Wally was expecting. Next time we can just submit the DVD and hide in the car.

The Order wrote on Apr 11, 2008 11:42 AM:to the Post at 8:30 am. We see some are still afraid to come the City Council meetings and make their opinions known while mocking the community's informed citizens. Secret backroom discussions are their manner of civic participation. Do they even reside in the City of Escondido? The informed citizens were supported 4-1. In the MOU, when did PPH ever promise to purchase an existing building and paint it. Never. It is likely that this will be the last significant 'improvement' PPH will make downtown for the next 5 years. By then, the current cast of characters will have moved on. Just be patient.

Medical Destination? wrote on Apr 11, 2008 11:43 AM:Unbelievable!

Close Ivy Instead wrote on Apr 11, 2008 3:54 PM:The plan to close the Valley Blvd crossover is very ill advised. Instead, if the PPH office buildings are ever built, Ivy should be closed, with the PPH offices constructed on the west side of Valley Blvd. Ivy is the least used street in Escondido's downtown area and SANDAG is actively promoting walkable community projects. Also, East Valley businesses and residents are very concerned about the effects of closing Valley Blvd. Traffic may overload Grand, and flow through residential neighborhoods . Also forcing the traffic, now carried by the Valley Blvd crossover, onto Ivy will cause Ivy to become a high-traffic barrier to pedestrians trying to get from the new administrative offices to downtown business. A pedestrian bridge over Valley Blvd between the hospital and the administrative offices, would help draw hospital workers into the downtown area while allowing the administrative staff ready access to the hospital.

Delayed Promises wrote on Apr 11, 2008 3:56 PM:Three years ago, PPH said the new hospital would be 'built by 2009'.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/07/13/news/top_stories/7_11_147_12_04.txt Now PPH claims it will be finished in 2011. Increased costs have sucked all the funds from the downtown project into the ERTC hospital. The new hospital project schedule slips a day each day!

McLeod Retrofit = $3 to 6 million in 2000 wrote on Apr 11, 2008 4:04 PM:The $5 million could have been better spend on the retrofit of the McLeod Tower. Back in 2000, before Michael Covert came to town, the cost of retrofitting the McLeod tower was a modest $3 million to $6 million. "'We're marching through the hospital stem to stern, looking at every square foot to decide what our future needs will be,' said David Owen, spokesman for the Palomar Pomerado Health System, which encompasses the 333-bed Palomar Medical Center in Escondido and the 199-bed Pomerado Hospital in Poway. Pomerado is in good shape. But there are two unsafe buildings at Palomar Medical Center, including the tower that houses a large number of hospital departments. McLeod Tower, built in 1967, will take by far the most amount of work ---- $3 million to $6 million, officials estimate. The tower ---- highly recognizable to passers-by ---- is in the center of the complex and could be considered the hospital's nerve center. It houses surgery rooms, oncology, radiology, mental health, pediatrics, orthopedics and the Graybill Auditorium. The Adams wing, built in 1957, houses administrative offices and is expected to cost $400,000 to retrofit. The problem, hospital officials say, is the non-construction costs, which have yet to be determined. Depending on how intensive the repairs are, those can include the costs of closing whole units and relocating patients, the costs to move expensive machines and the costs to build temporary housing for the displaced patients, doctors and machinery. 'The basic cost of construction is relatively minor compared to what other hospitals have to spend,' Owen said. 'But we have no way to guess what other expenses we are talking about. It might take $3 million to fix the wall, but another $3 million to $4 million to move all the X-ray stuff.' It's all going to take money better spent on program and patient care, hospital officials said." www.nctimes.com/articles/2000/06/11/export10392.txt

The Long, Long Wait wrote on Apr 11, 2008 7:48 PM:PPH purchased this building on Grand in the Spring of 2007. At the time, this was reported, 'Once the sale is concluded, Hoang said, Palomar Pomerado will renovate the building in preparation for moving its corporate offices there from Carmel Mountain Ranch this fall.' www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/06/01/news/inland/23_59_425_31_07.txt 'this fall' was referring to the Fall of 2007! Now we see a smaller group moving in 'early 2008.' PPH is way behind on the new hospital. It is not likely that it will not be completed by 2011. With PPH, one needs alot of patience.

Fool to The Order wrote on Apr 12, 2008 4:16 AM:Are you kidding me? The LAST thing this concerned citizen wants to be is a PPH patient! It's alternative meds for me. I'm not taking any chances. KARMA.

Wallace wrote on Apr 14, 2008 8:13 AM:I hope it includes a DVD watching station.