Getting your
Trinity Audioplayer ready...LOS GATOS — A $1 billion, state-of-the-art hospital could emerge in Los Gatos next to an existing medical center and double the size of the current hospital, according to a new proposal.
El Camino Health proposed the development of a technologically advanced hospital that would be built next to the healthcare organization’s existing medical center at 815 Pollard Rd., plans submitted to the city on Monday show.
“This is an important milestone in our commitment to meet the expanding healthcare needs of Los Gatos, Campbell, and surrounding communities,” said Dan Woods, El Camino Health’s chief executive officer.
In recent years, El Camino Health has purchased properties at multiple South Bay locations and taken steps to greatly modernize its women’s health and maternity facilities in Mountain View.
“Healing environments should feel human, connected and welcoming, while delivering the most advanced care for patients,” Woods said, referring to El Camino Health’s approach with the new hospital. “They should also provide an unparalleled working environment for our physicians, nurses and staff.”
The new 344,000-square-foot Los Gatos campus is expected to feature 122 single-occupancy rooms and be completed and open sometime in 2032. The existing hospital totals about 138,000 square feet.
The future medical center will also include two operating rooms; an expanded emergency department with 25 bays and enhanced stroke-receiving capabilities; enhanced maternity and newborn care, including a Level III neonatal intensive care unit; an enhanced heart and vascular program, including interventional cardiology; and expanded surgical services, El Camino Health stated.
“This rebuild represents the next chapter of El Camino Health’s commitment to combining personal, community-focused medicine with clinical innovations and medical excellence,” said Dr. Alan Muster, president of El Camino Health Medical Network.
The existing 143-bed hospital in Los Gatos opened in 1962. It no longer meets state-mandated seismic standards, according to El Camino Health. It also doesn’t support advanced and emerging medical technologies that can benefit both patients and physicians.
The new medical center would be the first all-electric hospital in Los Gatos. Officials with the healthcare provider believe that could contribute to a reduction in carbon emission levels.
The total project cost is expected to be $1 billion. The current hospital will remain in operation continuously while the new one is built on an adjacent site.
While the new hospital will have slightly fewer rooms, they will all be private and larger than the existing rooms. The current hospital offers numerous rooms that are shared by two patients. “This is a region that thrives on innovation, and that has inspired us to reimagine how healthcare is delivered,” Woods said. “We are bringing care closer to more people, in more places and the new Los Gatos hospital continues to put that vision into action.”
El Camino Health became involved with providing medical services in Los Gatos in 2009 when it bought Community Hospital of Los Gatos.
The prior owners had closed the medical center in April 2009, but within three months, a fully renovated and staffed El Camino Hospital Los Gatos opened up under its new owner.
Since buying the hospital, El Camino Health has invested more than $300 million in renovations and clinical services, along with $1.4 million in community grants to improve the health of local residents, the firm said. Some of the grant money has been steered toward a local school district.
“El Camino Health is helping us build a healthier, more compassionate future for our students,” said Paul Johnson, Los Gatos Union School District superintendent. “It is an impact that our families feel every day. Their hospital rebuild will renew El Camino Health’s anchor role in our community.”