[2] In addition to its emergency department, East Campus Medical Center at UC San Diego Health houses offers oncology, orthopedics, cardiovascular, otolaryngology, surgical weight loss and other specialties.

[3] The hospital's surgical weight-loss program was nationally recognized in 1993 when surgeons there performed the first laparoscopic gastric bypass procedure in the United States.

Federal investigations into alleged kickback schemes and reports of elevated mortality rates from heart bypass surgery impacted the hospital's reputation.

[8] Under both Plymouth and Prime, Alvarado's reputation improved, and the emergency department was remodeled, but the hospital was underutilized.

[10] UC San Diego Health also plans to renovate other patient floors, converting most rooms to single-occupancy.