UC San Diego Health and San Diego County Forge Innovative Partnership to Enhance Behavioral Health Services
In a significant move to address the urgent mental health needs of the community, UC San Diego Health and San Diego County announced an innovative partnership during the recent Board of Supervisors meeting. This collaboration aims to expand essential behavioral health care services at the East Campus Medical Center, formerly known as Alvarado Hospital, to better serve the residents of east San Diego County and beyond.
A New Behavioral Health Care Hub
The partnership will establish a new behavioral health care hub at East Campus Medical Center, which will include 30 additional psychiatric inpatient beds specifically for adult Medi-Cal patients. Additionally, there is potential for a crisis stabilization unit (CSU) to be integrated into the facility. This initiative is part of UC San Diego Health’s broader strategy to enhance its care network and provide a centralized location for mental health services, addressing the growing demand for psychiatric care in the region.
Patty Maysent, CEO of UC San Diego Health, expressed her gratitude for the partnership, stating, “The partnership is a tremendous achievement to assist those in our community who are suffering with severe mental health issues.” She acknowledged the support of County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe, County Chairwoman Nora Vargas, and the entire County Board of Supervisors in making this initiative a reality.
Addressing Mental Health Needs in San Diego County
The need for expanded mental health services in San Diego County is pressing. According to local data, one in 20 residents lives with a serious mental illness, a figure that rises to one in 13 among low-income households. Patients enrolled in Medi-Cal often face additional barriers to accessing behavioral health treatment, highlighting the importance of establishing medical treatment options for vulnerable populations.
Since 2018, UC San Diego Health has been collaborating with San Diego County to develop a comprehensive behavioral health solution for the region. The East Campus Medical Center is set to become the health system’s centralized hub for psychiatric services, significantly increasing the capacity to care for individuals with complex behavioral health needs.
The Role of Crisis Stabilization Units
The potential inclusion of a crisis stabilization unit at East Campus Medical Center is a critical component of this partnership. CSU services are designed to improve access to essential inpatient care and provide a pathway to outpatient services for adults experiencing behavioral health crises. Research has shown that these services can effectively reduce unnecessary hospitalizations by diverting patients from emergency departments and inpatient care, thereby stabilizing them and connecting them to community-based behavioral health services for ongoing support.
Supervisor Montgomery Steppe first introduced this initiative in May 2024, and the Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to finalize negotiations by October 21, with the partnership expected to close by October 31, pending board approval.
A Vision for the Future
The expanded behavioral health services at East Campus Medical Center are anticipated to be fully operational by 2026, contingent on the necessary approvals and funding allocations. UC San Diego Health will continue to provide emergency psychiatric services at its Hillcrest and La Jolla medical center campuses, while the county will maintain its emergency psychiatric services and inpatient units at the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital.
Dr. Jeff Daskalakis, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “This enhanced behavioral health services model is an emphatic response to the regional shortage of acute psychiatric beds, freeing up capacity in other medical units to handle rising emergency demands.” He added that the partnership would strengthen the continuum of care for the most vulnerable community members.
Academic Excellence and Workforce Development
The partnership will also involve medical oversight and academic leadership from UC San Diego Health and the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego School of Medicine. This collaboration presents a unique opportunity to establish a center of academic excellence in behavioral health treatment, innovation, and research. It will provide academic training opportunities that align with UC San Diego Health’s mission to deliver outstanding patient care through community commitment, groundbreaking research, and inspired teaching.
The psychiatric care offered at UC San Diego Health is nationally recognized for its specialized programs, evidence-based treatments, and clinical trials, ensuring that patients with mental health conditions receive the highest quality of care.
About UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health stands as the region’s only academic health system, dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care through a commitment to community service, innovative research, and inspired teaching. In the 2024-25 rankings by U.S. News & World Report, UC San Diego Health was recognized as the best hospital system in San Diego and ranked among the nation’s best in 11 adult medical and surgical specialties, including cancer, cardiology, geriatrics, neurology, orthopedics, and pulmonology.
The health system comprises three hospitals—Hillcrest Medical Center, Jacobs Medical Center, and East Campus Medical Center—as well as specialized centers such as the Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, Moores Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Koman Family Outpatient Pavilion, and Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute. With primary care and same-day services available at clinics throughout Southern California, UC San Diego Health continues to be a leader in providing comprehensive health care services.
For more information about UC San Diego Health and its initiatives, visit health.ucsd.edu.
In conclusion, the partnership between UC San Diego Health and San Diego County marks a pivotal step toward enhancing behavioral health services in the region, addressing the urgent needs of the community, and fostering a future of improved mental health care for all.
