Here are many of the milestones that have commemorated Tri-City Medical Center’s impact on the community:

1952: The need for a modern local hospital facility was identified by a study on essential needs of the community in attracting desirable industry and citizens to the area. Heads of the Oceanside, Vista and Carlsbad Chambers of Commerce created a cooperative effort to begin the planning of a regional hospital facility.

1955: A non-profit corporation, the Tri-City Hospital Association, was formed to oversee and coordinate the formation of Hospital District. Eugene L. Geil served as President.

1957: Voters elected to form the Tri-City Hospital District by a 5 to 1 margin.

1958: The County Board of Supervisors appointed the first directors of Tri-City Hospital District and the Tri-City Hospital Auxiliary was formed to assist the District. Some 18 women, six from each of the three cities conducted a campaign supporting the bond issue for the Hospital District. The electorate, by a 15 to 1 margin, approved a bond issue of $690,000, the District’s share of the $2 million in estimated building and equipment costs. The balance of the financing was to come from state and federal programs. The Tri-City Hospital Association disbanded.

1959: A 28.17-acres site was purchased for $42,000 on Vista Way. Construction began on an 87-bed facility.

1961: Our 52,000 square foot general acute care hospital facility opened on July 16th, with 42 physicians on staff. The original volunteers of the Tri-City Hospital Auxiliary took their posts for the first time on July 18th. Tri-City Hospital gained accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals.

1962: Plans were already underway for the first expansion.

1964: Friends of Tri-City Hospital was formed and eventually named the Tri-City Hospital Foundation. Local homeowners saw an 18-20 percent cut in tax rates as Tri-City Hospital became self-supporting.

1968: 30-year construction bonds were issued for $3.8 million for an extended care facility. In addition, Tri-City was to receive state funds amounting to $250,000 and Federal Hill-Burton funds for $259,485. 42 extended care beds and a tower with 45 concentrated care beds were completed.

1971-1979: Growth and continual expansion of services was evident throughout the years with a helipad and cardiopulmonary lab added in 1973, a north wing with 56 beds added in 1977 and outpatient surgery with eight recovery beds and two surgery suites added in 1979. A 42-bed maternity unit also opened in 1979 as a result of a bequest of $252,500 from former Board Member Jean Ashbrook.

1980: A Certificate of Need was approved for expansion.

1982: Another Certificate of Need was approved encompassing an expansion and remodeling project for 108,000 square feet, which included a four-story pavilion housing 96 beds and an ancillary services wing.

1983-84: The Oceanside Community Hospital with 66 beds was purchased and later renamed Tri-City Hospital West. A Cardiac Rehabilitation facility was opened across from Tri-City Hospital West, providing education and exercise programs for heart patients. A 29-bed The Mental Health Unit was completed costing $2 million. This increased the bed capacity to 338. An eye center also opened as a result of a $100,000 donation to the Foundation. The "Hospital Family" then initiated a "Campaign for Progress" with 200 employee volunteers. The "Campaign for Progress" went to the community and represented the most ambitious fund-raising effort in the hospital’s history. The goal of the campaign was to raise funds for the proposed Cardiovascular Surgery Service. The Regional Dialysis Center also opened at this time.

1985: The official name of Tri-City Hospital was changed to Tri-City Medical Center to reflect its expansion into a regional medical center. Our four-story Pavilion with 96 additional beds opened. The Acute Rehabilitation Unit for patients suffering from stroke or neurological disordered opened as well.

1986-1989: Tri-City Hospital District began to provide Home Care and Hospice serviceand several other facilities opened including the Cardiovascular Surgery Service; the Magnet Resonance Imaging Center; the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; the Edgar and Jo Anne Jones Mammography Center and the Occupational Health Program (WorkPartners).

1990: The Emergency Department was remodeled and expanded.

1992-1995: The Siegel Family Surgical Suites opened. Beatrice Riggs French donated $1.3 million to Tri-City Hospital Foundation, resulting in the Beatrice Riggs French Women’s Center remodel and expansion. Tri-City Hospital West was sold.

1994, 1995 and 1996: Tri-City Medical Center was designated as a 100 TOP Hospital in San Diego and the United States.

1999: The San Diego PET Center started operation and the Outpatient Behavioral Health program (Partial Hospitalization/Adult Day Treatment Program) opened in Vista.

2000-2005: Our Occupational Medicine Program, Work Partners, expanded to an off site location in the Business Park area of Vista and the Child Study Center in Carlsbad opened, for children with autism, ADHD, Asperger’s, mental retardation and other developmental and behavioral disorders. We also opened the John S. Middlekauf Outpatient Imaging Center, converted the majority of our radiology equipment to digital technology, added a 3rd digital interventional suite, a 2nd digital radiology fluoroscopy suite, the CT Multi-slice Scanner, the CT/PET Scanner, Open-Air Magnetic ResonanceImaging and a new state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization Lab.

A lot has changed since 1961 and so has Tri-City Medical Center. It’s good to know that as we celebrate our 45th birthday, we also commemorate a strong foundation of excellent care and compassion provided by the physicians, staff and volunteers of yesterday and today.

Happy Birthday Tri-City Medical Center!

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