The Sunnyvale Sun
News
Expanded health center is under construction in Sunnyvale
By Cody Kraatz
The Santa Clara Valley Medical Center diagnosed Sunnyvale in 2002 as an ideal candidate for a booster shot of medical services. That shot has been delivered with the expansion of Valley Health Center Fair Oaks, which is under construction and set to open in summer 2008.
The 45,000-square-foot, three-story clinic at 660 S. Fair Oaks Ave. will be encased in glass and aluminum, with 20 examination rooms and expanded services. The existing 16,000-square-foot health center remains open for business, but will be torn down for parking when the new one opens.
"The number of patients we take care of just continues to grow each year," said Joy Alexiou, a hospital spokeswoman. "It's mainly because of the demand for services."
A county report in February cited the importance of Fair Oaks and two other health centers in Gilroy and Milpitas to the county hospital's financial stability. Most of the people served at the health center are on such state and federal programs as MediCal, MedicAid and Medicare, said Alexiou, and the county competes with other hospitals for those patients and the reimbursement dollars they bring in.
"Medical members can go to other hospitals. They don't have to come to us," Alexiou said. "We want to be able to serve those patients...but also it is funding for this organization, and so to be able to attract a variety of patients need to have better facilities."
While the health center expansion continues, the Sunnyvale City Council has met in closed session to discuss the possibility of purchasing land near the health center and building affordable senior housing there.
The council met in a closed session Oct. 16 to discuss the price and terms of payment of part of the Fair Oaks health clinic site, as well as two city-owned parcels near W. Iowa and S. Mathilda avenues.
Those parcels could be for sale, but Vice Mayor Tony Spitaleri said on Oct. 23 that the council had given direction but taken no action. City officials can't give further details about the price or terms of sale because any negotiations are confidential.
It is unclear where affordable housing could be located on the site. Site plans show the new building and parking taking up the entire property.
"We have had discussions with the county that it would be an ideal location to have some affordable senior housing. We are in negotiations," said Councilman Dean Chu.
If the affordable housing comes through, seniors would have their primary care needs met next door, though there will not be emergency or hospital services.
Departments will include adult medicine, family practice, pediatrics and dentistry, as well as mental health care and several adult and family-focused services of the county's Public Health Department, officials said. A laboratory, diagnostic imaging and a pharmacy will be on site.
"It's like where you would go for your doctor's visit," said Alexiou.
Visit www.scvmed.org and click on Valley Health Centers on the left side of the page for more information.
