After 60 years in Turlock, MedicAlert is moving to Salida

MedicAlert of Turlock is pulling up stakes and moving its corporate offices and operations to a leased building in Salida.

Within a week and a half, MedicAlert will have its entire staff working in a 15,000-square-foot building on Pirrone Court, near Highway 99, next to Brandman University, a spokesman said.

The Salida facility is the new home for the corporate offices, call center, operations and data center. About 75 employees will work in the building.

MedicAlert recently sold its Turlock headquarters at Tuolumne Road and Colorado Avenue to Turlock Christian Schools. The nonprofit foundation created in 1956 is known internationally for the sale of medical ID bracelets, and maintains a large database that provides health information on its members to emergency responders.

In January 2015, MedicAlert cut its workforce from 90 employees to 60 because of financial losses and reduced demand for its services. The foundation will mark its 60th anniversary this month and has seen a turnaround in the past year, spokespeople said.

With the sale of its headquarters, MedicAlert’s preference was to stay in Turlock, but the available properties were not the right fit, said Justin Noland, senior director of marketing. “It came down to there not being an option that made sense,” Noland said.

The Salida facility is right off the freeway and within reasonable driving distance for employees. It formerly served as a call center.

Noland said it positions MedicAlert closer to commuter populations in Manteca and Tracy, which will make it easier to recruit people who are driving long distances to work in Silicon Valley.

Michael Cooke, interim city manager for Turlock, said the city tried to keep MedicAlert from leaving town. Officials made contact with the employer soon after the 6.25-acre headquarters property was listed for sale, he said.

“We found out their original plan was selling the building and leasing back a portion of it,” Cooke said. “In the end, Turlock Christian Schools wanted the entire property.”

MedicAlert considered various options in Turlock, including a lease package for a property on West Main, but it chose the location in Salida, Cooke said.

“I understand it was a former call center so it was a turnkey opportunity for them,” Cooke said. “We have a long history together. They were an important part of our local business community. We would have liked to have kept them here.”

David Leslie took over as chief executive officer of MedicAlert in July and will lead the organization at its new location. A sign on the building will advertise the name to motorists on Highway 99.

“We had growth in the last year and actually had a remarkable turnaround,” Noland said. “We added new products over the course of the last 12 months.”

MedicAlert was founded 60 years ago by Turlock physician Marion Collins and his wife, Chrissie, after their teenage daughter had a severe reaction to a tetanus anti-toxin. The parents developed an emergency bracelet that people can wear, so that health care personnel are aware of their allergies or medical conditions that can make the bracelet owner unresponsive.

The organization grew to 4 million members and 140 employees by 2007. But its customer base has been eroded by mortality and newer technologies that provide patient information to emergency responders.

This story was originally published March 7, 2016 at 5:57 PM with the headline "After 60 years in Turlock, MedicAlert is moving to Salida."