Construction begins on new 59,000-square-foot clinic that will
offer obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, opthamology and public
health services
Gilroy – It’s just a pile of dirt off U.S. 101 now, but in about a year, the new Valley Health Center in Gilroy will be bustling with more than 100,000 clients. Construction for the 59,000-square-foot clinic began Wednesday morning after four years in the making and will expand services available to South County residents.
“This new center will add services that the county doesn’t currently provide in one location in South County,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage at the groundbreaking ceremony. “It’s really important that people don’t have to travel to San Jose to get services. Our clinic in San Martin is great but it’s full. Sometimes people have to wait for months for an appointment.”
Valley Health Clinic will offer obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, ophthalmology and public health services such as immunizations and dental care. The two-story design will also house a pharmacy, and digital X-ray diagnostic equipment.
“County research shows that two-thirds of the patients that go to the clinic in San Martin are from Gilroy,” Gage said.
For the past four years he has fought to bring additional health care services to South County residents.
“They deserve it, they pay taxes too,” he said.
Valley Health Clinic will cost an estimated $59.8 million, financed with a bond offering and built at the Southpoint Business Park at Arroyo Circle on 10 acres of land.
The clinic will include 49 exam rooms and seven dental rooms, 21 health care providers and more than 4.5 times the space as the San Martin facility.
The clinic will serve all residents, but will cater to indigent clients without insurance. Many of the services will be moved from the county’s facility in San Martin.
“Our mission is to care for everybody,” said Robin Roche, director of ambulatory and community health services for the Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System.
And by having extensive medical services in Gilroy they will be able to will alleviate many hardships for the working poor, who must often travel to San Jose for diagnostic imaging and other treatments.
Construction is about a month behind schedule due to the unusually wet winter and a delayed groundbreaking, Roche said.
“This land is finally drying out,” he said. “This place is going to have major construction going on the next couple of months.”
