Sutter Health, Kaiser to reorient services
One health care provider seeking permit for new four-story building
SANTA CRUZ >> Health care will look different in Santa Cruz County starting as early as August, the Sentinel learned.
A Sutter Health spokesperson confirmed that Scotts Valley Urgent Care will transition to primary and pediatric care by appointment only on Aug. 30. Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s Westside Urgent Care will reopen to those previously served by the Scotts Valley Urgent Care.
“As part of our commitment to providing safe, personal, affordable care, we regularly assess our service offerings to better steward our resources and meet the changing needs of our patient population,” the spokesperson said. “We will continue to meet patient demand for time-sensitive care at the Scotts Valley Center by offering same-day appointments, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.”
Those who need to be seen on nights and weekends have urgent and walk-in care options including expanded services at Westside
Urgent Care, 6 miles from the Scotts Valley location.
The transition is a good thing, Sutter Health feels. The transition of urgent care from one area to another in the county will allow for the recruitment of more primary and pediatric care physicians at the Scotts Valley office.
Existing and potential plans
Last week, Kaiser Permanente Santa Cruz leaders presented on
going changes happening to local facilities primarily to zero in on mental health treatment. This included shifting clinical space at the Scotts Valley and Watsonville offices to embed psychiatry services and bring additional services such as retail optical stores and audiology labs to Santa Cruz County.
While much of the progress has already been made and the spaces are ready for patients, the original building of the Scotts Valley Kaiser office is under construction through the end of the year; the square footage will be redesigned around family medicine, OBGYN, pharmacy and imaging needs.
During the virtual tour, what was not discussed was a new, four-story office on Soquel Avenue in Live Oak, a project formally proposed by applicants in March 2019 that is moving forward now.
The draft Environmental Impact Report for the 160,000-square-foot office was released last week so the public can view it and its associated documents before the public comment period ends on August 9th.
The Notice of Availability for the project notes “significant impacts” in aesthetics, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality and utilities and service systems.
Many of these concerns are also listed in an initial study of the Dominican Hospital redesign and expansion, which was recently passed by the Board of Supervisors in a unanimous vote after a blessing from its Planning Commission. Dominican Hospital is just one mile from the proposed site.
Each area has its own list of impacts to consider, according to planning staff that presented the project in a scoping meeting. For example, obstructing or changing scenic vistas is a concern that could come about from the project’s design and construction.
According to a summary from the applicant, Pacific Medical Buildings LLC, the facility would primarily house specialty outpatient services in addition to advanced medical and urgent care clinics. Women’s health, pediatric health, and even an infectious disease unit are also mentioned in the plans.
“The facility would be open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., but urgent care and ancillary functions would operate continuously, without closing. The expected number of on-site staff, at peak, would be approximately 300 persons,” the summary includes.
A parking garage with 730 spaces would accompany the office, as well as bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Approximately 47 spaces will be EV-charging capable. Solar panels will line the rooftop for environmental efficiency. The project would lead to the creation of a new driveway on Soquel Avenue, with patient drop-off and pick-up zones outside of the office building and a separate driveway for service vehicles at the back of the building.
To submit public comment on the project, email County Principal Planner Stephanie Hansen at Stephanie.Hansen@santacruzcounty.us. To learn more, visit the project website at www.5940soquelave.com.