Vista del Mar Hospital

Welcome to Vista del Mar Hospital

On behalf of our doctors, nurses, clinical staff, and administration, we welcome you to Vista del Mar Hospital. Admitting yourself or a loved one to a behavioral healthcare hospital is difficult. We understand and want you to know that we will provide a safe and caring environment to meet your mental health needs.

At Vista del Mar Hospital, we offer inpatient and outpatient programs for adolescents and adults. The hospital specializes in stabilization and intensive treatment for mental health and substance use crises. In addition, we provide evidence-based outpatient services as an alternative to hospitalization, including the Adult Partial Hospitalization Program and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) for adolescents, adults, and our military community. Additionally, we recently added a Chemical Dependency IOP.

Most who come to our hospital are experiencing some of the worst times in their lives. At Vista del Mar, we are a hospital that values compassion, respect, and dignity for all individuals and their families.

I hope you find your care at Vista del Mar Hospital meaningful.

Sincerely,

Ron Escarda

Interim Chief Executive Officer

For Immediate Release: July 12, 2022

Contact: Jeanette Villanueva, jeanette.villanueva@aurorabehavioral.com, (805) 846-9060

Vista del Mar Hospital names Interim CEO

VENTURA, Calif. – Ron Escarda, a healthcare leader for more than 20 years, has been named Vista del Mar Hospital's Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

"Ron Escarda is a healthcare leader with 20+ years of experience building high-performance teams, growing product lines and services, and developing collaborative partnerships with large healthcare providers to implement integrated behavioral healthcare delivery systems," said Brent Longtin, Regional Vice President of Signature Healthcare Services, the parent company for Vista del Mar. "Ron's background as a Registered Nurse brings a unique clinical presence and support to the nursing and clinical teams working most closely with our patients."

Before joining Vista del Mar Hospital, Escarda worked for UHS in key leadership roles, Director of Operations and Implementation in King of Prussia, PA, where he managed several joint ventures and project builds from inception to post-opening support of leadership teams. He mentored, coached, and trained new CEOs, CFOs, and leadership teams for each new facility project. He also worked as the UHS Group Director for the PNW in Kirkland, WA. He was responsible for the operational and financial performance of six behavioral health organizations in Portland, Spokane, Olympia, Monroe, Everett, and Burien. He was also responsible for talent acquisition, political advocacy, financial and operating reporting, and developing key strategic partners. Before UHS, Escarda served as the CEO of Fairfax Hospital in Kirkland, WA.

Escarda attended Indiana Wesleyan University, where he received his Master's of Science in Management & Finance; Miami Dade/UM, where he received his RN degree; and St. Mary of the Plains College for his Bachelor's degree in History and Psychology. His many accomplishments include earning the UHS Chairman's Council Award for 2011, 2012, and 2013; 2014's Eagle Award, UHS' highest honor for leadership and performance; Developing the Northwest School for Innovative Learning, which grew from one campus and 11 students to three campuses and over 180 students; Grew Fairfax Behavioral Health from 102-bed facility to a multi-site 231 bed integrated behavioral health system, the largest in Washington State; and he was selected to serve six years on Washington State Hospital Association's Public Policy Board.

"We are happy to have Ron here as our Interim CEO while we secure permanent placement for the hospital's new CEO," said Longtin.

Vista del Mar Hospital, which holds The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital Accreditation, offers inpatient and outpatient programs for adolescents and adults. The hospital specializes in stabilization and dual diagnosis for mental illness and chemical dependency.