ESCONDIDO—Palomar Health has just become the first California healthcare district to be designated Certified Healthcare District by the Association of California Healthcare Districts (ACHD) on Wednesday.
“We are honored to become the first California Certified Healthcare District,” says Ted Kleiter, Palomar Health board president. “As a public healthcare district, we have a huge responsibility to our community. We strive to serve our district in an honest and transparent way each day.”
In order to win the designation, Palomar had to meet a core set of standards as set forth by the ACHD Governance Committee.
“This core set of standards ensures that public healthcare districts are conducting business in a manner that is open and transparent for the benefit of the communities they serve,” said Lauren Garber, media specialist at the hospital.
Palomar Health officials showed their compliance in transparency, ethics, reporting, purchasing, conflict of interest, requesting public funds and executive compensation, according to Garber.
Board Director Jerry Kaufman oversaw the application process.
“Being a Certified Healthcare District assures the North County community that we are functioning with their best interest in mind,” said Robert Hemker, Palomar Health president and CEO.
“Palomar Health has always been committed to providing the best possible healthcare to our patients, while adhering to best management practices,” said Hemker.
Palomar Health is the largest public healthcare district in the state by area and serves over 500,000 residents in an 850 square mile region.
The hospitals include Palomar Medical Center and Palomar Health Downtown Campus in Escondido, as well as Pomerado Hospital in Poway.
