The Palmdale Regional Medical Center has received its certificate of occupancy from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. Staff with Universal Health Services can now occupy the building and begin the process to have the facility licensed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The 239-bed facility is the first new medical center in the Antelope Valley in more than 20 years and will employ more than 800 people. Staff will spend the next six to eight weeks preparing the building for the licensure process, which takes about one week. The medical center is expected to open soon after receiving the license.