History of Sharp HealthCare

Growing With San Diego

Along with San Diego, Sharp HealthCare has grown enormously over the last half century. From one community hospital, there are now seven in the Sharp system, as well as several urgent care centers, skilled nursing facilities and affiliated medical groups and physician offices. Sharp’s growth, however, is about much more than just new buildings and campuses. Sharp employs a workforce of nearly 15,000 dedicated employees, including more than 4,000 physicians, to support Sharp’s vast facilities.

Below is a chronological timeline of Sharp’s history, including organization highlights and system developments.

2012
In November, Sharp Rees-Stealy's Downtown location moved across the street into a new medical center. The building is San Diego's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified medical office building.

Sharp Memorial Hospital and Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns launched a composting program in September, which annually diverted more than 336,000 pounds of food waste from local landfills as part of City of San Diego's Food Waste Composting Program.

Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns unveiled new "I'm a Sharp Baby" T-shirts in September. The shirts are given to each baby born at the hospital by the Sharp Mary Birch Auxiliary volunteers.

In September, Sharp HospiceCare purchased property for its first South Bay hospice home, located in Bonita. Completion of the home is planned for summer 2013.

In June, Sharp HealthCare and Sharp Rees-Stealy made its convenient online patient portal, mySharp, available as an app for iPhone®, iPad® and iPod touch®.

In June, the Douglas & Nancy Barnhart Cancer Center at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center opened its doors. The $36 million, 45,000-square-foot center and accompanying Medical Office Plaza offers a patient-centered environment designed with healing in mind.

In May, Sharp Rees-Stealy opened a state-of-the-art new medical center in Sorrento Mesa, which offers a wide variety of medical services, as well as a pharmacy, urgent care, occupational medicine and an optical shop.

Sharp HealthCare was designated as a Quintiles Prime Site, a distinction that gives Sharp's medical facilities an enhanced role in global clinical research and the development of new and more effective medicines.

2011
Sharp HealthCare was selected to participate in the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Model, a new initiative sponsored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center.

Sharp announced a multimillion-dollar partnership with local philanthropist Marianne McDonald, PhD, to benefit Sharp's comprehensive inpatient and outpatient chemical dependency recovery programs and form the new McDonald Center at Sharp HealthCare (formerly Sharp Vista Pacifica).

In February, Sharp Grossmont Hospital made television history when it participated in the first-ever live taping of a birth on daytime TV for ABC's hit show, "The Doctors."

The Sharp Mary Birch stork came down from its usual perch atop the nearby parking structure to get repainted and have a leg repaired. The 50-year-old stork also received a new bundle of joy to deliver.

In January, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center broke ground on a new Cancer Center and Medical Office Plaza, which is scheduled for completion in April 2012.

In January, Sharp Rees-Stealy broke ground on a new downtown medical office building that will replace the existing 85-year-old facility. It will be the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold-certified "green" medical office building in San Diego and is scheduled for completion in summer 2012.

2010
Sharp Memorial Hospital debuted its green rooftop garden atop the emergency department entrance. The design features linear rows of plants in a framework that depicts a music staff. Patients on floors above the roof can view the garden.

In November, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center began construction on a $12 million expansion to its emergency department. The completion is scheduled for early 2012 and will showcase a new emergency department that will more than double its current capacity and increase its size.

A nationwide kidney donation chain originated at Sharp Memorial Hospital, which is the only San Diego-based hospital that is a member of the National Kidney Registry.

Sharp HealthCare launched PatientSecure, a biometric patient-identification technology that accurately recognizes patients as they are checking in for appointments or being admitted to the hospital through palm-vein technology. 

In May, Sharp Coronado Hospital began offering complimentary valet parking to patients and visitors.

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center unveiled South County's first surgical robot, the da Vinci® SI HD Surgical System, and began offering robotic surgery for prostate, gynecologic and oral surgery operations.

2009
Sharp Grossmont Hospital opened the newly expanded and completed Emergency and Critical Care Center in September. The E&CCC added 90 beds to Sharp Grossmont, including 24 intensive care unit beds and 66 monitored (med/surge) beds.

In July, Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital expanded its Day Treatment Program to accommodate nearly twice the number of patients with the opening of a 14,000-square-foot satellite facility in El Cajon.

Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns acquired the da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System in a new operating suite devoted solely to the care of women. The new suite, which opened in June, was titled the John and Carole Sachs Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery at Sharp Mary Birch. This new technology allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive gynecologic procedures that allow women to return to normal activities sooner than traditional open surgery.

In February, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center unveiled two healing gardens at the hospital's Birch Patrick Skilled Nursing Facility. The gardens offer residents and their families a healing place to find peace and relaxation.

On Feb. 27, Sharp HealthCare discontinued operations at the Sharp Cabrillo Skilled Nursing Center and closed the 76-bed Point Loma facility.

In February, Sharp Coronado Hospital opened the Labyrinth, a circular meditative path surrounded by gardens and a place for patients and visitors to contemplate, relax and find peace while maximizing comfort and well being.

In January, the new Sharp Memorial Hospital, called the Stephen Birch Healthcare Center at Sharp Memorial Hospital, opened in San Diego. The first new hospital in San Diego in more than 15 years, the facility continues Sharp's long-held commitment of offering clinical excellence with the latest technology and patient-centered care.

2008
In December, the first class of nursing students from University of Oklahoma College of Nursing Program at Sharp HealthCare (OU College of Nursing) graduated through San Diego's first accelerated second-degree nursing program. The OU College of Nursing, in affiliation with Sharp HealthCare, has the only nursing program in San Diego that offers a fast-track option for qualified students with one bachelor's degree to earn a bachelor of science in nursing degree (BSN) in 14 months.

Sharp Grossmont Hospital began using da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System to perform minimally invasive procedures such as many different urologic and gynecologic surgeries.

Sharp Memorial Hospital received the prestigious MAGNET® designation for its excellence in nursing practices and quality care. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awards this highest honor, which is nationally accepted as the gold standard in nursing excellence. Only 11 other hospitals in California have received this recognition, including Sharp Grossmont Hospital.

On April 30, Sharp HealthCare and Scripps Health announced the sale of Sharp Mission Park Medical Centers to Scripps. The merger of Sharp Mission Park Medical Group and Scripps Mercy Medical Group became effective on Aug. 1 under the new name of Scripps Coastal Medical Group.

Sharp HealthCare began an initiative to unite its nearly 15,000 employees for three community service projects throughout the year to help make a difference in San Diego. This new enterprise is called Sharp Lends a Hand, and began when thousands of people visited Sharp.com to submit ideas for our service projects. Sharp’s employees then elected the three community service projects: Stand Down for San Diego’s Homeless Veterans, Rescue Taskforce for Wounded Soldiers and California Coastal Clean-up Day.

Sharp Grossmont Hospital partnered with San Diego’s Rady Children’s Hospital to operate an 11-bed pediatric unit at the East County hospital. The new unit, called Rady Children’s at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, debuted on May 12 to respond to an increased pediatric care demand in East County.

Approximately 7,000 donors contributed more than $60 million to Sharp HealthCare Foundation, which signaled the end of the capital campaign, Transforming Health Care in San Diego: The Campaign for Sharp HealthCare.

2007
Sharp Memorial Hospital began using the da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System to perform women's surgeries, including gynecological cancer and uterine fibroid removal.

The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recognized Sharp Memorial Hospital with a 2007 Gold Performance Achievement Award and Sharp Grossmont Hospital with a Silver Award for meeting their most up-to-date guidelines and recommendations for coronary artery disease.

The Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation made a $10 million donation — the largest charitable gift in Sharp’s history — to name the new Sharp Memorial Hospital.

2006
Sharp Grossmont Hospital received The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for its stroke center.

Sharp Memorial Hospital and Sharp Grossmont Hospital are among 22 California hospitals recognized for their outstanding commitment to health care quality and patient safety based on results from the Leapfrog Hospital Quality and Safety Survey.

For the third year, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women was one of three hospitals in the U.S. chosen by Discovery Health Channel to be featured in 10 hours of live television for a show entitled “Birth Day Live!”

More than 77 percent of East County voters approved Proposition G, Grossmont Healthcare District’s $247 million bond measure created to address the community’s growing needs for emergency care and other medical services. A portion of the funds will help Sharp Grossmont Hospital complete its Emergency and Critical Care Tower.

Sharp Grossmont Hospital awarded prestigious MAGNET designation for its excellence in nursing practices and quality patient care.

2005
Sharp Memorial Hospital is named 25th among America's "50 Exceptional Hospitals" for quality and patient safety in a nationwide study conducted by the Leapfrog Group, as published in Consumers Digest.

Sharp Coronado Hospital renovated and expanded its Emergency Department to meet the growing needs of the community.

Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women was one of three U.S. hospitals chosen by Discovery Health Channel to be featured in 10 hours of live television for a show entitled “Birth Day Live!” This is the second year that Sharp Mary Birch participated in the show.

2004
Sharp Metropolitan Medical Campus broke ground on a major expansion project. Scheduled for completion in 2008, the medical campus will be one of the most modern, technologically advanced, patient-focused care centers in the nation.

Sharp Grossmont Hospital opens a new Emergency Room and Critical Care Center.

Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women was one of three U.S. hospitals chosen by Discovery Health Channel to be featured in 10 hours of live television for a show entitled “Birth Day Live!”

2003
New Intensive Care Unit opened at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center with 28 private patient rooms.

New Sharp Memorial Outpatient Pavilion opened on the Sharp Metropolitan Medical Campus to provide cancer treatment, general imaging, women's imaging, outpatient surgery, endoscopy services, education and wellness programs and a health library.

New Cushman Wellness Center opened, featuring 16-slice CT scanning, health education and wellness programs.

On the 50th anniversary of the original groundbreaking for Sharp Memorial Hospital, Sharp HealthCare Foundation launched a $50 million campaign called Transforming Health Care in San Diego: The Campaign for Sharp HealthCare. A portion of the funds raised would help create the Sharp Memorial Outpatient Pavilion and the new Sharp Memorial Hospital.

2002
New Medical Office Building opened on the campus of Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center to house outpatient services and physician offices.

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center purchased a state-of-the-art nuclear medicine camera used to scan bones, lungs, organs and the brain, one of only three in use west of the Mississippi River.

2001
Sharp HealthCare launched The Sharp Experience — an initiative designed to transform the way health care is delivered by increasing employee, patient and physician satisfaction.

Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group opened a new, 50,000 square foot state-of-the-art clinical medical facility in Rancho Bernardo.

Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group  opened a new primary and specialty care medical facility in Otay Ranch.

2000
Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group unveiled a new acquisition, the fastest CT scan machine available in the U.S., and the only one in San Diego and one of two in California.

Sharp launched three-year electronic medical record (EMR) initiative. 

Sharp Grossmont Hospital opened the first hospice house, known as LakeView Home, which offers in-home end-of-life care.

1999
Sharp launched its first comprehensive website, www.sharp.com, for patients and consumers offering health tips, news stories, physician referral and comprehensive coverage of Sharp programs and services.

Inpatient acute care services offered by Sharp Cabrillo Hospital are transitioned to Sharp Memorial Hospital. Sharp Cabrillo discontinues emergency services, but continues to provide skilled nursing and outpatient services.

Sharp and the University of California, San Diego, Medical Center established a joint bone marrow transplant program emphasizing the advanced development of new technologies and clinical trials.

1998
Sharp HealthCare Murrieta delivered the system’s first "Internet baby" via a secure broadcast.

Sharp HealthCare acquired Mesa Vista Hospital and Vista Pacifica Hospital (now Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital and the Sharp McDonald Center).

Sharp HealthCare Murrieta sold to Tenet Healthcare Corporation.

1997
Sharp Knollwood Convalescent Hospital closed on March 31.

1994
Coronado Hospital officially affiliates with Sharp HealthCare, becoming Sharp Coronado Hospital.

Affiliation with the Gateway Medical Group in Southeast San Diego is created.

Affiliation with Graybill and FPA medical groups is created.

Family Practice Associates created on the Grossmont campus.

Sharp HealthCare affiliates with a new statewide health-care alliance, California Health Network.

1993
Sharp Grossmont Plaza Surgery Center opens.

Sharp enters into negotiations with the United States Olympic Committee as a major sponsor of the Olympic Training Center in Otay Mesa.

The David and Donna Long Cancer Center opens at Sharp Grossmont Hospital.

Family Practice Residency Program is created.

New outpatient cardiovascular diagnosis center opens at Sharp Grossmont Hospital as part of the Cardiovascular Institute.

Sharp Grossmont Hospital converts 27 medical-surgical beds into a skilled nursing facility.

The Institute for Mind-Body Medicine and Human Potential and the Center for Mind-Body Medicine is created.

Affiliation with Children's Orthopaedic Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) is created.

Affiliation with San Diego Regional Cancer Center is created.

1992
Sharp HealthCare Murrieta opens a 49-bed acute-care hospital serving northern San Diego County and southern Riverside County.

Dedication held for major addition at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, including maternity services, emergency services, oncology, outpatient care and diagnostic services.

Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women opens as the largest (169 beds) and most extensive freestanding center for women's health in southern California.

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center opens its obstetrics unit and Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery.

The Mission Park Medical Group affiliates with Sharp HealthCare becoming the Sharp Mission Park Medical Group, (SMP). SMP has 456 primary care physicians who contract with a number of specialists and sub-specialists to provide care in the north county area.

Sharp Senior HealthCare consolidates operations at a single clinic in the Clairemont area.

Sharp Health Plan is created. Sharp HealthCare employees enrolled into Health Plan HMO, as well as outside companies.

1991
Grossmont Hospital affiliates with Sharp HealthCare, becoming Sharp Grossmont Hospital and bringing with it a significant service area of 750-square miles in East San Diego County.

1990
Sharp opens a Post-Surgical Recovery Center.

Sharp Breast Center opens adjacent to Sharp Cabrillo Hospital.

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center breaks ground for major addition to add 52 acute-care beds and a new maternal/infant pavilion with 21 labor and delivery, recovery and postpartum suites.

Sharp Metropolitan Medical Campus breaks ground for the new Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women.

1989
Sharp acquires the 99-bed Golden Triangle Medical Center on a 48-acre site in the Murrieta Valley of southern Riverside County. It operates as a skilled nursing facility known as Sharp HealthCare Murrieta.

Community Hospital of Chula Vista joins Sharp HealthCare.

Community Hospital of Chula Vista, a 131-bed acute-care facility serving South Bay, joins Sharp HealthCare.

The Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation donated $5 million to name San Diego’s first women’s hospital after the couple’s only daughter, Mary. The campaign for Sharp Mary Birch Hospital was Sharp HealthCare Foundation’s first-ever campaign, raising $15 million for the $46 million hospital.

1986
Polinsky Cancer Center opens at Sharp Memorial Hospital.

Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group opens clinical facilities in Rancho Bernardo and Point Loma.

First Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center at Sharp is built.

1985
Sharp Rees-Stealy Corporation is formed by acquisition of the assets of Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, with 86 physicians.

Sharp Senior HealthCare is acquired, resulting in quality, cost-effective health services for seniors.

Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery opens at Sharp Memorial Hospital.

Grossmont Hospital Foundation is established.

1984
Sharp Memorial Hospital receives designation as a Level II Adult Trauma Center.

Knollwood West Convalescent Hospital joins the network and becomes Sharp Knollwood.

1983
Sharp Memorial Hospital  becomes a fully licensed home health agency, and a new helipad is completed.

1981
Doctor's Hospital in Point Loma is purchased and renamed Sharp Cabrillo Hospital. 

1980
Sharp and Children's Hospital join forces to form The San Diego Perinatal Center.

1979
Sharp HealthCare Foundation is established.

1978
The O'Brien family donates $100,000 in memory of their father, Earl Taylor, for the Sharp Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory.

Coronado Hospital Foundation  is established.

1976
San Diego's first total body scanner, costing more than $500,000, is installed at Sharp Memorial Hospital.

1975
A $3 million Sharp Rehabilitation Center Therapy Building is officially dedicated by San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson.

The $10 million, 100,000-square-foot landmark Memorial North Tower opens with 10 operating rooms, intensive care, coronary care, medical units and other specialized areas.

1968
A master plan for the Sharp Medical Complex is developed and construction begins on a nine-story North Surgery Tower that was formally dedicated in 1975.

1967
The Sharp estate donates more than $1 million to the hospital, which begins a program to develop a truly comprehensive medical center.

1966
The Heart Center at Sharp Memorial Hospital is recognized nationally for its contributions to research, diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease.

1962
The first major long-term rehabilitation center specializing in care for patients with spinal cord, stroke and brain injuries opens at Sharp Memorial Hospital.

1960
A $1.5 million maternity wing, the "Stork Club," opens at Sharp Memorial Hospital with 60 beds, five delivery rooms and 92 bassinets.

1959
A heart-lung machine developed jointly by Convair engineers, heart specialists and Sharp Memorial Hospital personnel is installed for use in open-heart surgery.

Thomas E. Sharp breaks ground on new hospital.

1955
Donald N. Sharp Memorial Community Hospital opens as a nonprofit, nonsectarian charitable institution providing general care for the people of San Diego.

1953
Ground is broken for the Donald N. Sharp Memorial Community Hospital.

1952
Thanks to some 11,300 individuals, families and business organizations, donations surpass $2.5 million to build the 200-bed Donald N. Sharp Memorial Community Hospital.

1950
Thomas E. Sharp, rancher and radio communications pioneer, gives $500,000 to San Diego Hospital Association in memory of his son, US Army Air Corps Lt. Donald N. Sharp, killed in World War II.

1949
The P.L. Gildred family donates 12.5 acres in an area of San Diego now called Serra Mesa to San Diego Hospital Association as a proposed hospital site.

1946
San Diego Hospital Association (SDHA) is formed to raise funds for hospital facilities in San Diego area.

Back to top