Palomar Health will close its 17-bed Gero-Psychiatric Unit (GPU) at Palomar Medical Center Poway on October 31. The move will allow the health system to focus on expanding services through its new behavioral health institute, scheduled to open in 2024.
Palomar Health introduced the 17-bed unit in Poway to provide extraordinary care to the older population within the community, an underserved demographic in the region.
For the past two years, the GPU has been operating under a state waiver that provided flexibility for use of space. The waiver is set to expire soon and without the waiver in place, the hospital cannot meet the state requirements to continue operating the unit.
All services offered at the GPU will be transferred to the new Palomar Behavioral Health Institute. The three-story, approximately 90,000-square-foot facility will include 120 inpatient beds and also will provide outpatient services.
Diane Hansen, CEO at Palomar Health, said the new facility will allow Palomar Health, the state’s largest public healthcare district, to help meet the growing need for mental health services in San Diego’s North County.
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Chief Petty Officer Elliott Fabrizio, a Spring Valley native, was awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal aboard USS Constitution late last month. Fabrizio currently serves as a mass communication specialist for the Navy.
The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal is awarded to service members who perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature.
“It’s been a real privilege to be able to connect with the Boston community during my tour onboard the Constitution and show my appreciation for the hospitality this city has shown me,” said Fabrizio, who has served in the Navy for 17 years.
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Escondido-based Baker Electric Home Energy has been recognized by Solar Power World as one of the top U.S. solar companies. Baker came in at No. 123 out of more than 400 companies nationwide in the solar industry magazine’s 2022 Top Solar Contractors list, which ranked solar firms in the utility, commercial and residential markets by number of kilowatts installed in the previous year.
“We thank Solar Power World for the recognition and will continue to look to the future by offering the best of modern home energy technology solutions,” said Baker President Mike Teresso.
The Top Solar Contractors list is developed each year by Solar Power World to honor U.S. solar installers. “The utility-scale solar market, of course, puts up huge installation numbers each year, but the majority of workers in the industry are constructing projects in the commercial and residential markets, which continue to break records,” said Kelly Pickerel, editor-in-chief of Solar Power World, which also recognized Baker’s Teresso as 2022 Solar Advocate of the Year. Teresso joined the company in 2013 and has used his industry leadership position to advocate for positive solar policy at both the state and federal level.
