Cuts at East San José Hospital Will Harm Vulnerable Residents, Advocates Say

Late Monday afternoon — on the same day Regional Medical Center in East San José planned to downgrade its trauma center and cut back other critical health care services — residents and advocates held a vigil to mourn what they called an irresponsible divestment from a largely working-class community.

The action was the latest in a series of rallies and protests since May by a coalition of medical workers, community members and patient advocates who were angered by cutbacks enacted by HCA Healthcare — the parent company of Regional Medical Center.

“We’re here mourning their disregard for our lives,” said Darcie Green, the executive director of health nonprofit Latinas Contra Cancer, who joined about a dozen other members of the coalition at the vigil.

They held their vigil outside Good Samaritan Hospital in the more affluent West San José area, another facility owned by HCA Healthcare — where the company is pursuing a major expansion.

The group shared stories of their experiences with Regional Medical Center and their concerns, marched and chanted in front of Good Samaritan, and lit candles, leaving them on the edge of the facility’s east entrance driveway.

“As these candles are lit, they are a reminder that this fire is still burning. We’re not stopping today,” Green said. “We’re going to continue on this fight because all communities deserve to have full access to health care.”

In February, HCA announced it planned to close the Regional Medical Center’s trauma center, eliminate its severe heart attack services and reduce stroke services on Aug. 12.

However, following months of protests by the coalition, the company backed off the closures in mid-July.

Instead, hospital officials said the company plans to downgrade its trauma center from a Level II to a Level III, which offers lower levels of care, doesn’t require specialists to be on-site around the clock, and leans more on transferring patients with serious needs to other facilities after stabilizing them.

The company said that instead of eliminating its ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) program, which handles severe heart attacks, it will reduce services. For example, the hospital’s around-the-clock catheterization laboratory, where cardiologists insert catheters to help diagnose heart issues, will now only be staffed in the daytime.

Stroke services will also be reduced from “comprehensive” to just above “primary” levels, which the company said will still be able to serve 97% of patients.

Until the changes, Regional Medical Center was the only comprehensive stroke center on the entire eastern side of Santa Clara County — a previous report released in April said 20% of the county’s stroke patients arrive there.

Coalition members said they plan to continue pushing back against the changes.

“So HCA would have you believe that the move from downgrading to a Level II to a Level III is a big win for us because at least our trauma center is still open,” Green said at the vigil. “But in reality, there is a very, very, very large gap between a Level II and a Level III trauma center, and in that gap will fall the lives of patients.”

Advocates said the cuts will disproportionately affect people who already face challenges accessing health care, including people of color, older people, and those who are uninsured or underinsured.

The group is trying to bring attention to what they call an inequitable investment strategy by HCA, which is the largest for-profit hospital operator in the nation.

As cutbacks are being made at Regional Medical Center in the city’s East Side, the company is in the midst of a multi-year effort to get major expansion plans approved for Good Samaritan, which includes two new hospital wings and a medical office building.

While the primary reason for the new construction at Good Samaritan is due to state seismic safety requirements, the hospital company is also adding more beds and more space to upgrade technology and add private rooms, as well as keep up with accessibility requirements.

A spokesperson for HCA said claims of inequity are false, noting that HCA invested hundreds of millions of dollars in seismically upgrading Regional Medical Center facilities and buildings in 2014 and nearly $200 million since in ongoing equipment and facilities upgrades.

The company also plans to expand the Regional Medical Center emergency department from 43 beds to 63 beds in the coming year, costing about $10 million.

The spokesperson said the company is making decisions based on the long-term financial viability of the hospital, balanced with the health care needs of the community.

Some of the company’s critics have questioned the decision to pull back on services on the East Side when the Nashville-based conglomerate is earning significant profits, with its stock price around an all-time high.

In its second-quarter earnings report for 2024, HCA said its net income totaled $1.461 billion, and it expects to earn nearly $6 billion over the course of the year.

“In terms of the care, we’re trying to provide that but also do that in a sustainable way so that the institution itself doesn’t start going down a slippery slope because we haven’t managed the finances required to provide that care,” the spokesperson said.

“For the most part, not much will change in terms of what the public will experience,” the spokesperson said.

Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez said it’s “ridiculous” and “dishonest” to suggest that cuts won’t be impactful.

“They’re not looking out for patient care. They’re looking out for their business interests,” Chavez said.

“What they’re saying is they’re looking out for their bottom line. And our obligation is to look out for the people who live, work, play, learn and worship here,” Chavez said.

“My expectation is that corporations that care deeply about the community try to share in that responsibility. I’m not seeing HCA do that,” she said.