Brief history, updated June 2006

Struggle to save downtown San José healthcare facilities continues

1996 Columbia (now called HCA) the largest for-profit hospital corporation in the nation, bought San Jose Medical Center (SJMC), a downtown institution since 1923, and a number of other local properties. They now own three hospitals in San José - Regional Medical Center (previously called Alexian Brothers), Good Samaritan and San José Medical Center (now closed). ·
SJMC staff and public were assured retrofitting for earthquake safety would be done as well as modernizing.
1998 Alexian Brothers [now called Regional Medical Center (RMC )], 2½ miles from SJMC, was obtained. Columbia announced possible closure of SJMC in favor of expanding at RMC.
1999 In response to the initial threat of closure, Save San José Medical Center Coalition (SSJMCC), composed of concerned faith-based, labor, service and community organizations, was formed and now includes More than 80 member organizations.

Research reveals that Downtown/East San Jose is the single area of greatest medical need in our county.

The Coalition has organized numerous rallies, public testimonies, spoken at many meetings and collected more than 10,000 signatures on petitions stating the need for SJMC to remain open. It met with City, County, State and Federal elected officials as well as HCA representatives. The San José City Council, City and County Commissions as well as many other organizations, had all called on HCA to keep the hospital open.

Based on the advice of the Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System Executive Director, SSJMCC pursued cooperation of the City and County to do a SJMC Closure Impact Study. The cost of $100,000 to be shared equally by the City and County. City approval came in June 2001, County in June 2003.

A Technical Advisory Committee, with community representation, was established to follow the study procedure. April, 2004 the consultant was hired. Nov. 15, 2004 the complete study was presented to the City and County. The results clearly state that there is an urgent need for healthcare services downtown now and an increase of 200 general acute care hospital beds by 2015/2020. *

Meanwhile on April 21, 2004, after several different closure statements since 1999, HCA said SJMC will close in 2007 after the planned expansion at RMC was completed. This would allow for a smooth transition of services.
On September 8, 2004, without warning, HCA announced that SJMC will close on December 9, 2004. Stunned by this action, SSJMCC and the community demanded action by the City, County and State officials to do what ever is needed to protect the community's healthcare needs. The SJMC site must be reserved to provide facilities to meet those needs.

January/February 2005, the City Council accepted the Closure Impact Study Report and approved the staff recommendation to issue a Request for Qualifications(RFQ) with Business Terms to determine the viability of health care providers' interests for site reuse. Five entities presented submittals.

March 1, 2005 The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors (BOS) followed with action There was unanimous support for accepting the SJMC Closure Impact Study Report findings.

March 28, 2005 A workgroup consisting of County, City and community representatives was established to explore how the Closure Impact Study recommendations can be accomplished.

May 18, 2005 A committee was appointed to evaluate the RFQ submittals.

June 15, 2005 The results of the RFQ evaluation was released by the City Manager's Office. None of the submitals were accepterd.

July 24, 2005, A Community Forum was held to review and comment on the City Manager's recommendations. SSJMCC's basic demands are to establish a clinic immediately, preferably, 24/7 urgent care, and retain 5 acres of land for future comprehensive healthcare/hospital facility regardless of other site uses.

August 30, 2005 The evaluation and recommendation memo was on the City Council Agenda. The City Council approved a memorandum to establish a stakeholder based community planning process for the SJMC site use. They are further given specific instructions which includes SSJMCC's basic demands. *

December 6, 2005 The report finally appeared on the City Council agenda. Once again an additional memorandum was presented emphasizing the previous specific instructions including developing a list of suggested participants for the Stakeholder Advisor Committee (SAC). *

April 4, 2006 The staff report was presented to the City Council and with added amendments was approved to establish the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC). This includes 20 people representing neighborhoods, healthcare, business, labor, property owner and broader community interests. (As the SAC meetings proceeded the number of members stabilized at 15.)

April 11, 2006 The San José Mercury News printed our Opinion Editorial.

June 1 to 20, 2007 The SAC has been meeting monthly, with few exceptions. To assist, two consultants have been hired to explore healthcare needs and land-use matters. Unfortunately, due to contract wording disagreement, the consultant contracts were not finalized until January of 2007. The land-use consultant began his work without the final contract, but the healthcare consultant did not. The latter began his work in January of 2007. This has delayed the ability of the SAC to move forward as quickly as had been hoped.
There seems to be general agreement to the essential need for a primary care and urgent care clinics. The specifics are part of the ongoing discussions. Still on the table for continued attention is the CoDH demand and City Council direction for land bank of 5+/- acres for future hospital, the need for which was predicted in the Closure Impact Study, and other land use issues.
The public is encouraged to attend the SAC meetings. Persons at the meeting outside of the appointed committee enter into the discussion also. Meetings are normally on the third Wednesday of each month at City Hall in rooms W118/119. However, the date and place are sometimes changed. Call Allen Tai at 408-535-7866 or CoDH (information below) for confirmation. Or access the city web site for all materials pertinant to the SAC - sanjoseca.gov/planning/sjmc/.

January 16, 2007 HCA submitted a request for demoliton. We were assured by the Department of Planning that no action would be taken until the SAC process was complete. And we would be kept informed.
In order to inform the community and gain their suport we have drafted and are circulating two new petitions with our new goals and vision. One for the general public and one for Coalition members to renew their commitment. We also continue to appear before neighborhood and other community groups.

The Coalition believes that healthcare cannot be treated as just another commodity to be bought and sold on the market. Healthcare is a basic need and a fundamental human right. Private companies must respect that right if they are to retain the confidence of the people, and public officials have a special obligation to defend it. As Abraham Lincoln once said, "The legitimate object of government is to do for a community whatever they need to have done but cannot do as well for themselves in their separate and individual capacities." The Coalition calls on all residents, the business community, community organizations, faith and labor communities, and our elected representatives at all levels to join in our vision of providing for a future hospital in the Downtown area.

* Documents available.

Coalition for a Downtown Hospital

P.O. Box 1852, San Jose CA 95109-1852   408-923-7001, 408-254-3311  
Spanish 408-379-7698    info@coalitonforadowntownhospital.org

The Coalition has organized numerous rallies, public testimonies, spoken at many meetings and collected more than 10,000 signatures on petitions. It met with City, County, State and Federal elected officials as well as HCA representatives. The San José City Council, the Santa Clara County Human Relations Commission, the Human Relations Commission of San José, San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, as well as many other organizations, had all called on HCA to keep the hospital open.

Coalition for a Downtown Hospital (formerly Save the San Jose Medical Center Coalition)
    P.O. Box 6554, San José CA 95150
408-923-7001 or 254-3311, Spanish 379-7698    info@coalitionforadowntownhospital.org