SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A group of South Bay community members challenged a national hospital corporation on Monday night. They held a vigil to honor the lives they claim will be at risk.
They're calling out HCA Health care which owns the Regional Medical Center of San Jose and Good Samaritan Hospital. Maria Noel Fernandez is with Working Partnerships USA. "What we know is that they are in the moment trying to expand Good Sam at a time when they are actually divesting from the Regional Medical Center where a large part of the clients are people of color and working-class folks on the East Side," Fernandez said.
"It's very much an effort that we're seeing to put profit over people and actually expand one hospital on the West Side and take services away from the East Side." Earlier this year, it was announced that RMC's trauma center would close completely -- but it was later announced as of Monday August 12th, their trauma center would be downgraded from a Level II to Level III. PREVIOUS: SJ Regional Medical Center staff raise concerns over upcoming trauma center closure Darcie Green, CEO of Latinas Contra Cancer, addressed the crowd.
"In that gap will fall the lives of patients," Green said. "And disproportionately patients who are underinsured or struggle to keep insurance." For weeks, some staff at RMC, city leaders and community members have rallied to say the move will impact low-income families in East San Jose.
"A downgrade isn't a restaurant downgrade or it's not som.