Gilroy
– Santa Clara County’s newest trauma center is open today after
county supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved an unusual contract
for Regional Medical Center to provide trauma care services in east
San Jose.
Gilroy – Santa Clara County’s newest trauma center is open today after county supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved an unusual contract for Regional Medical Center to provide trauma care services in east San Jose.
Lingering animosity between county health officials and RMC’s parent company, Healthcare Corp. of America, which closed San Jose Medical Center in November after giving three months’ notice, the legal minimum, threatened to torpedo the deal. Wary of another closure, county officials demanded that RMC be treated as a new facility subject to a six-month performance review, and post a $10 million bond to be paid if it closes without first giving six-months’ notice. RMC resisted those demands, but acquiesced earlier this month.
Spokeswoman Victoria Emmons said Tuesday that the trauma center at RMC will begin accepting walk-in patients today at noon and ambulance traffic in late June. A temporary helipad should open in July.
“There’s a very high level of energy around the hospital today as people learned about the trauma center becoming a reality,” Emmons said. “Staff has been very ready to take trauma patients for some time.”
The county had three trauma centers until HCA closed the 334-bed San Jose Medical for financial reasons. It’s now relying on Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, which is owned by the county, and Stanford University Medical Center.
A trauma center is different than an emergency room. It must be staffed with nurses and technicians with advanced training and have trauma surgeons and anesthesiologists available around the clock. Hospitals with trauma centers must invest in expensive equipment dedicated to the center and receive certification from the state.
There is no trauma center in South County. People in accidents in this area are taken by ambulance, and often flown in CALSTAR helicopters, to the North County trauma centers. A new center in San Jose would benefit South County because most helicopter traffic is now diverted to Stanford, a 20-minute flight from Gilroy. The San Jose hospitals are about 12 minutes away.
