SAN JOSE MEDICAL CENTER CLOSING vs/ss

A TRAUMA CENTER THAT HAS TREATED HUNDREDS OF CENTRAL COAST ACCIDENT VICTIMS IS CLOSING EARLY. THE SAN JOSE MEDICAL CENTER WAS SCHEDULED TO STAY OPEN UNTIL 2007, BUT WEDNESDAY THE OWNERS SAID THEY WILL CLOSE BY DECEMBER 9TH. THE CLOSURE WILL LEAVE SAN JOSE WITHOUT A DOWNTOWN ACUTE CARE/TRAUMA FACILITY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE EARLY 1920'S. IT IS SPECULATED THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS PROMPTED BY A BILL (NOW AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE), REQUIREING A HOSPITAL ANNOUNCEMENT AT LEAST 180 BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE SHUT DOWN. BUT NASHVILLE-BASED H.C.A. HEALTHCARE (OWNER OF SAN JOSE MEDICAL CENTER) DENIES THAT WAS THE REASON. THEY SAY THE REAL ISSUE IS STAGGERING FINANCIAL LOSSES. EXPENSIVE MANDATES, INSUFFICIENT GOVERNMENT REIMBURSEMENTS, AND INCREASING LABOR COSTS ARE BEING BLAMED FOR A LOSS OF $16.3 MILLION, IN 2003 ALONE. 100 PATIENTS-A-DAY WILL HAVE TO GO ELSEWHERE FOR THEIR MEDICAL CARE, AFTER THE DECEMBER CLOSING. THE 2 REMAINING TRAUMA CENTERS IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY ARE SANTA CLARA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER, AND STANFORD MEDICAL.