Palomar Health CEO Responds to Doctors’ Criticism of Controversial Business Move – NBC 7 San Diego

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The president and CEO of Palomar Health is fighting back accusations by some of the healthcare provider’s doctors that a recent business decision could impact the quality of care at its two North County hospitals.

I don’t like that fact because it’s just not true, said Diane Hansen.

Palomar Health recently changed the company that supplies its hospitals in Escondido and Poway with emergency personnel, including doctors.

A number of Palomar staff are concerned about a business decision they believe could reduce the number of doctors visiting hospitals, NBC 7’s Artie Ojeda reports.

A company called Vituity has staffed Palomar Health for over 40 years. From August, Emergent Medical Associates will be the new supplier.

Hansen said the change was made for several reasons. She said it was good practice to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to other vendors every few years. This has not been the case at Palomar for some time and said it was time to “make it a fair process”.

The decision was made in order to improve quality, improve the patient experience and satisfaction and, quite frankly, improve affordability, Hansen said.

But Palomars chief of staff Dr Sabiha Pasha told NBC 7 that the change will downsize, which will increase the doctor’s workload and, at some point, reduce the quality of care.

Someone will suffer, and that will be the patient, ”Pasha said. “Mistakes will be made. The doctors are going to be tired. That’s the formula for physician burnout. “

Physicians are now required to register with Emerging Medical Associates if they wish to continue working with Palomar Health. Many feel like they have been caught off guard and have only had a few days to make a decision.

One of those doctors who chose not to stay is Casey Buitenhuis.

To see all the doctors and staff devalued in this way is just excruciating, said Buitenhuis, who has been a pediatric emergency doctor at Palomar for seven years.

Buitenhuis’ refusal to sign with the new supplier would effectively end his career at Palomar Health.

It was extremely heartbreaking for me, ”said Buitenhuis. “I have no confidence in this administration. I cannot faithfully fulfill my duties as a doctor with this administration which manages it as it is now. “

Meanwhile, during a morning rally outside Palomar Medical Center in Poway, one of Palomar Healths’ board members, John Clark, expressed his displeasure.

I voted no because I don’t see any value in doing so, ”Clark said. “These doctors have just gone through the worst year of their lives, battling COVID, risking their lives. Our administration turns around and puts a knife to their backs financially. It’s just beyond belief. “

At the moment, more than 100 doctors have to decide whether or not to sign up with the new provider. As of Monday, only about a third had verbally agreed to stay.

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