Del Puerto Pathway to Health
November 2026 Update
Del Puerto Pathway to Health / Paseo de Del Puerto hacia la Salud
November 2026 – CEO’s Message: Adjusting the Timeline, Keeping Our Commitment
Last month, I wrote about how Patterson spoke up for emergency care. Now, I want to share an update about the timing of our health care campus.
Delays in anticipated funding mean we must reassess the procurement and construction dates we previously shared. We understand this is disappointing. At community meetings, through our feedback page, and in conversations at the Health Center you have told us how much you need more care close to home. We share that priority.
Building the healthcare infrastructure our growing community needs requires shared investment. Our funding plan anticipated developer contributions covering approximately half of the healthcare campus costs, helping support services for the residents of new neighborhoods. Those contributions have not been secured, and there is not yet agreement on how developers will help fund the healthcare components of the campus. Our responsibility is to bring you a plan we can deliver and to be candid about the challenges ahead. We are matching available funding with project costs, advancing the required planning and environmental review, and determining which facilities we can responsibility build first. We will share updated dates when we have a reliable basis for them.
While we plan for the future, your healthcare needs continue today. Patterson District Ambulance crews respond to calls across the West Side every day. The Del Puerto Health Center welcomes patients Monday through Friday and evenings on Tuesday and Thursday. This fall, our team also provided free sports physicals at Patterson High School to help student athletes prepare to participate.
Caring for our community, close to home, is the commitment behind the campus project—and the work your healthcare district continues every day.
— Dr. Karin Freese, CEO of the Del Puerto Health Care District
Campus Update: Where the Schedule Stands
As outlined above, fuding delays are affecting the Patterson Healthcare Campus schedule. Previously published procurement and construction dates are under review and should no longer be treated as confirmed milestones.
Updated targets will reflect available funding, required approvals, infrastructure needs, and applicable grant requirements. We will publish dates when we have a reliable basis for doing so.
What about AB 2282? The Governor's veto of AB 2282 did not affect the campus plan. The proposed Rural Emergency Stabilization Care Unit (RESCU) was a separate initiative to address the emergency care gap. The District continues to explore options for improving emergency care access while advancing the campus.
For the full update, visit dphealth.org/building-project-events.
Phase One Spotlight: Why These Services Come First
The campus is planned to develop in phases over many years. Our initial priorities focus on three essential needs: emergency response, primary care, and behavioral health. Funding and project readiness will determine when each component can break ground.
Del Puerto Ambulance and Administration Center: Patterson District Ambulance crews need a facility that supports daily operations, equipment readiness, and staff needs. When crews transport patients outside the community, that unit can be unavailable for an hour or more. A purpose-built center will support the crews who provide this essential service, while bringing District administration and ambulance operations together in one location.
Combined Clinic: Primary Care and Behavioral Health: Brining these services together will help residents receive more care locally and make coordination between primary care providers and mental health professionals easier. The goal is fewer trips outside Patterson and better support for patients whose needs span one or both services.
Supporting Infrastructure: Utilities, roads, site access, and drainage must be in place before facilities can open. This groundwork supports the initial buildings and prepares the campus for future development.
These priorities guide our planning as we establish a construction sequence that District can responsibly fund and deliver.
Patterson High School Physicals
On October 21, eighty-one Patterson High School student-athletes received pre-participation physicals for fall sports courtesy of the Del Puerto Health Center. Since 2023, Health Center staff have partnered with the school’s athletic directors, including current Athletic Director Dwight Jones, to set up a temporary clinic in the Dave Klein Gym.
These screenings include a review of each student’s personal and family medical history, discussion of symptoms experienced during exercise, and a physical examination of the heart, lungs, skin, and other areas as indicated by the student’s health history. The visits also provide an opportunity to discuss nutrition, menstrual health when applicable, and emotional or behavioral concerns that could affect sports participation.
Based on the findings, healthcare providers may clear students for participation, recommend restrictions, or refer them for further evaluation. Over the past three years, Del Puerto Health Center has provided more than 1,000 sports screenings for Patterson High School Tigers for free. Another free, community service provided by Del Puerto Health Care District!
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Sign up for monthly updates: Visit www.dphealth.org and scroll to the bottom of the homepage to subscribe to the Healthcare Campus Newsletter.
Share your ideas and feedback: dphealth.org/planning-feedback