A mobile medical clinic will begin operating at De Anza College next month, marking the first step in a broader partnership between Santa Clara County and the Foothill-De Anza Community College District to expand healthcare access in the West Valley.
District officials at an April 9 Board of Trustees meeting said the clinic, set to open May 6, will operate as a one-year pilot program, providing primary care and other services to students and the wider community while plans for a permanent facility remain in development.
The county-operated mobile unit will be located in Parking Lot J and offer services including primary care, vaccinations, lab work, family planning and referrals. A spokesperson for the County of Santa Clara told the Town Crier that the operating time frame will be Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. during the pilot phase.
Christopher Dela Rosa, vice chancellor of business services, said the clinic will be “available to any resident of Santa Clara County,” not just students.
As a county facility, the clinic will accept most insurance plans, with the exception of Kaiser, and will also serve patients without insurance, according to Dela Rosa.
Trustees emphasized the clinic’s potential to address gaps in healthcare access, particularly in the western portion of the county.
“This is an area with thousands of Medicaid recipients who have no neighborhood clinic nearby,” said Trustee Alexander Gvatua.
Board members also described the effort as a significant step toward supporting both student wellness and broader community health needs.
“We need to spread the word,” said Board Vice President Laura Casas. “It’s a great service to our students, our staff and our community.”
Officials said the mobile unit is a temporary measure while the county works toward developing a permanent medical office building on campus. Parking Lot B has been identified as the most likely site for that future facility, though no construction timeline has been set.
“This is a stopgap measure … in the meantime, I think this is going to be a really critical thing,” Gvatua said.
Progress on a permanent clinic will depend on county funding and future lease negotiations with the district.
In addition to healthcare services, district leaders said they hope the partnership will eventually create internship and career training opportunities for students in healthcare fields, though those are not part of the initial mobile clinic agreement.
Some concerns were raised about parking, traffic and potential impacts on campus events if a permanent facility is built. District officials said those issues would be addressed through future planning and environmental review.
Trustees also noted the importance of tracking usage data to demonstrate need and guide next steps.
For now, officials said the focus is on ensuring the mobile clinic’s success and building awareness ahead of its launch next month.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to clarify that during its pilot phase, the De Anza College Mobile Medical Center will operate on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., not every weekday as previously stated.
