Santa Clara County readies Regional Medical Center for April 1 go‑live as emergency departments strain and federal funding risks loom

Santa Clara County health officials on Tuesday told the Health and Hospital Committee they are preparing to bring Regional Medical Center (RMC) into county operation on April 1, but said local emergency departments and public‑health programs face increased pressure from sustained high patient volumes and uncertainty about federal health funding.

Paul Lawrence, a county health system executive, said about 10,070 job offers were made to RMC employees and roughly 98% of those offers have been accepted, “around 10,050 employees,” and that technology and licensing work are on track for the transition. “We did receive a 45‑day go‑live readiness from our technology services department. And everything is on track for the implementation of Epic on day 1,” Lawrence said.

County and hospital leaders stressed that even with RMC returning to service, other capacity and throughput problems are acute now. Valley Medical Center (VMC) ED volumes have risen about 12% since November, with some days reaching roughly 300 patients and an average near 270 per day, officials said. O'Connor Hospital reported a roughly 10% increase, with highs near 240 patients and an average near 220 per day.…