CEP America begins staffing inpatient departments at Palomar Health hospitals

The physician group that has staffed Palomar Health’s emergency rooms for many years is now staffing the inpatient departments at the district’s two main hospitals.

The expansion of services by CEP America is expected to strengthen the continuum of care at the new Palomar Medical Center in Escondido and Pomerado Hospital in Poway, the district reports.

“We are excited to bring the same level of care to the hospitals’ inpatient departments that we have to their emergency departments,” said Mark Talavera, MD, CEP America’s vice president for hospital medicine.

Inpatient medicine physicians, also known as hospitalists, specialize in the care of hospitalized patients.

CEP America began staffing the inpatient departments at the new Palomar Medical Center and Pomerado Hospital on April 1, taking over for another physician group. Most of the physicians who had been staffing the inpatient departments continue in their positions but are now members of CEP America.

“CEP America has been part of Palomar Health for many years and has an excellent track record for quality and efficient care,” said Sabiha Pasha, MD, CEP America’s hospitalist program medical director. “Having this new structure with CEP America providing ED and hospitalist services allows for greater collaboration in the care of patients and at the end of the day that is what is most important.”

CEP America Regional Director John Fredericks, MD, agrees that the close working relationship between CEP America hospitalists and emergency physicians will benefit patients.

“Smooth and timely transitions of care between the emergency and inpatient departments are vitally important for the comfort and safety of patients,” Fredericks said.

CEP America also staffs the Standby Emergency Department at the Palomar Health Downtown Campus in Escondido and provides hospitalist-related services to the acute rehabilitation and mental health units there.

Palomar Health, which recently completed an urgent care building at 211 13th St. in Ramona, is the largest public health-care district by area in California and the most comprehensive health care delivery system in northern San Diego County.