Stanislaus Medical Center and eight small clinic buildings on Scenic Drive probably will be sold in three to four years, possibly to a developer interested in capitalizing on its prime location along Dry Creek and a block from downtown Modesto. In the meantime, the multibuilding facility that's spread over nearly 17 acres still has plenty of life left in it.

A variety of medical services will remain, and more may be added to the facility, even though the emergency room and hospital portion of the medical center will close Nov. 30.

"We have a group of people who will go through a deliberative process to identify possible uses," said Stanislaus County Chief Executive Officer Reagan Wilson.

Some programs or services, Wilson said, that might fit in the building are:

• A training facility for custodians
• A hospice house
• Long-term care facility
• Alzheimer's day care center

• Services -- Substance abuse, laboratory, radiology, nuclear medicine, physical therapy and two pharmacies.
• Clinics -- Urgent care, which will operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, family practice, obstetrics, mental health, orthopedics, oncology, cardiology, gastro-intestinal, dermatology, dental, urology, ENT (ear, nose and throat), neurology, surgery and ophthalmology.

Unneeded equipment and furniture will be sold, Wilson said. When the entire campus finally is sold, Wilson said the clinics and services now located along Scenic Drive likely are to be spread throughout the area. The county has been decentralizing various public services for years, in an effort to make it easier for residents to use them. Currently, the county is developing multiuse facilities -- combining such services as clinics, branch libraries and sheriff's substations -- in Hughson and Empire. Wilson said other parts of the county that would benefit from clustered services include the Airport District, southwest Modesto, the Patterson and Newman areas, and Salida.

Reprinted by permission of Modesto Bee