Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas is launching a major expansion project. It's another example of the hospital building boom in San Diego County.
Just a few weeks ago, UC San Diego broke ground on a massive medical center in La Jolla. The brand new Palomar Hospital will open later this year in Escondido.
The new Critical Care Building at Scripps Encinitas will more than double the size of its current ER. It will also greatly increase the number of hospital beds.
Scripps Vice President Carl Etter said the expansion project is critical.
"You see, North County has just grown leaps and bounds, more than 20 percent growth in the last decade," Etter explained. "And we have seen hospital visits and emergency department visits grow at the same time."
Etter said the new two-story addition to the hospital should be open for business by the summer of 2014.
