Completing a San Jose Medical Center closure impact study is the first step in developing plans to achieve the vision of maintaining a downtown hospital. For over two years Save San Jose Medical Center Coaltion has strongly urged the county to match the City of San Jose's $50,000 to do the study. On June 16, 2003, the board of supervisors approved the finances.

Now the parameters of the study must be finalized. A proposal to do this was presented to the County Health and Hospital Committee on Aug. 6, 2003. Two dozen members of the Save San Jose Medical Center Coalition were on hand to hear the proposal presented by Bob Sillen, executive director of the Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System.

Roz Dean (left) and other coalition members questioned that proposal, saying that it failed to address two key points. After approving the proposal as presented, Health and Hospital Committee Chair Liz Kniss invited the coalition members to present their case again on Aug. 19 when the proposal goes to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.

City, county officials pledge support for San Jose Medical Center study   Mayor Ron Gonzales says San Jose will work to ‘unfreeze’ allocated funds; Blanca Alvarado indicates county’s share is ‘in the bank.’ March 13, 2003