Gilroy Urgent Care Now Open on Weekends! No Need to Rush to the ER for Minor Ailments
Residents of Santa Clara County now have another option for medical care! Santa Clara Valley Health Care System says the Valley Health Center urgent care in Gilroy will be open on weekends starting August 22, with doctors available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The goal is to let patients with non-urgent conditions go there, so the emergency room won't be so crowded.
As vice chair of the Board of Supervisors for District 1, Sylvia Arenas said this is a good way for the county to respond to the health care needs of residents in the south county. She also said the county has been investing in health care services in the south, such as St. Louise Regional Hospital's new cardiac care services.
What does this urgent care treat? Conditions that aren't life-threatening but can't be delayed, like minor bleeding wounds, cuts, fractures, sprains, plus colds and coughs, mild allergies, injuries from falls or minor accidents, and vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration. Both adults and children can be seen, from newborns to 18-year-olds. No appointment is needed—just walk in, though you can make one if you prefer.
Paul Lorenz, the head of the health care system, said that with more urgent care hours, emergency rooms can focus on truly dangerous situations like heart attacks, strokes, and severe trauma.
Data shows that emergency visits at St. Louise Regional Hospital have increased 48% over the past five years. They believe opening on weekends in Gilroy will meet the health care needs of the growing south county population, and non-urgent patients may also have shorter wait times. Plus, urgent care is much cheaper than the ER.
In addition to Gilroy, there is also a Valley Health Center in Morgan Hill that offers urgent care, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In short, you don't have to keep going to the ER for minor ailments—leave the emergency beds for those who really need them, and it's more convenient for everyone.
