The sparkling 59,000-square-foot Valley Health Center Gilroy opened its doors for the first time today to more than 100 patients.
The South County medical offices had been situated in a cramped 12,000-square-foot facility in San Martin prior to getting a new home at the corner of Gilman Road and Arroyo Circle in Gilroy. Aside from optometry, ophthalmology and dentistry, all services were up and running at 8:30 a.m. this morning when the first patient arrived, said Healthcare Manager Denise Ramos.
Medical staff of three pediatricians and five adult practitioners had full schedules ahead of them, she said. Diabetes and prenatal educators were on staff and the laboratory, pharmacy and radiology departments were open.
"It was a physically exhausting procedure," Ramos said of the move from the San Martin office to the new center. "But it was one of the smoothest and most well-organized."
Patients marveled at the size and aesthetics of the new facility. Arthur Garcia of Gilroy plans on taking advantage of the center's pharmacy, lab and phlebotomy services. And the best part of the new center: "I can walk to it!" he said.
Worried that the San Martin employees had been replaced along with the facility, Lee Anne Meyers of San Martin was relieved when she saw a few familiar faces behind the pharmacy counter.
"I hope they kept the same people," she said. "They were beautiful people. I loved that little clinic, but I would go out of my way to come here."
The old facility was homey and welcoming but too small, she said. Instead of two pharmacy windows, six semi-private windows ran along a wall at the new center.
"The pharmacy line used to run out the door in San Martin," she said.
Limited services in San Martin were expanded at the Gilroy location. Meyers' friend Elena Miranda of San Martin used to have to travel to San Jose for radiology. The new clinic offers services to South County patients - 65 percent from Gilroy alone - that were previously a 45 minute drive away, at the county's San Jose campus.
"This is going to be well worth it," Miranda said.
Valley Health Center Gilroy boasts 49 examination rooms, three treatment and seven dental rooms. The clinic offers a variety of outpatient services including pediatrics, ophthalmology, dentistry, adult medicine, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology - which includes a pregnancy evaluation program that deals with gestational diabetes and hypertension and provides ultrasound. Expanded support services offer a pharmacy and an on-site clinical laboratory and radiology. The clinic will move into the digital age and away from analog equipment as well.
Clean lines and lots of light create a welcoming atmosphere. Ramos pointed out touches that may seem small but go a long way to make patients feel at ease. Three dressing rooms in the radiology suite will allow patients more privacy when changing, Ramos said. Currently, they have to undress in the examination room. Textured, cozy art is hung about the waiting rooms.
If the county board of supervisors gives the green light, new positions will be added, Ramos said. The clinic has the capacity to accommodate patients, just not the providers. Only 10 physicians and about 30 members of the support staff provide their services through the clinic. New patients could have to wait four to six weeks to get an appointment. The new center is designed to accommodate 23 physicians and dentists, with a total annual capacity for more than 100,000 patient visits.
Many of the patients that use county facilities put off healthcare until it's an urgent need, Ramos said. The center does not provide emergency services and only provides same-day access for established patients.
Sara Suddes Sara Suddes is the education reporter for South Valley Newspapers. Send her an email or (408) 847-7158.
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