Kaiser Permanente to open new medical office
SANTA CRUZ >> Kaiser Permanente is opening a new 18,000 squarefoot facility in downtown Santa Cruz, making it the third medical office run by the healthcare provider in Santa Cruz County.
With patient services set to begin Monday, the Sentinel visited the facility for a media tour on Friday morning, where Kaiser staff previewed the new location and a few of its features.
“What's exciting about our new medical office building here in downtown Santa Cruz is that we're bringing a lot of new service lines to the area,” said Kaiser Permanente Registered Nurse Director Brenda George. “We're bringing laboratory services, a full service pharmacy, X-rays and mammography. Those are services that were not formerly offered in our smaller clinic on Locust Street…it's new and exciting for us.”
The new facility is at 110 Cooper St., former site of the landmark Cooper House. According to George, this location will absorb and expand on the primary care services currently being offered at Kaiser's clinic on Locust Street. Staff will occupy the second and fifth floors of the building which includes a pharmacy, laboratory and imaging services all under one roof.
“You don't have to see the doctor anymore on Locust Street and drive to Scotts Valley to fill your prescription,” George said. “What we're accomplishing here is what I like to call `one-stop shopping.' Everything is here in one location.”
George was also involved in the planning and launching process for similar Kaiser satellite offices in Scotts Valley and Watsonville, which opened with the Locust Street clinic on the same day five years ago. “This is, like, easy stuff for me,” she said, reflecting on the two year planning and buildout process for this new lo
cation. “We're just really excited to be here.”
The new downtown office will include 22 exam rooms for physicians and nurses specializing in primary care, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, according to a prepared release from Kaiser. It is triple the size of the Locust Street facility and will be run by a team of about 55 employees, according to George.
“We are proud of the growth we are experiencing in the Santa Cruz area as we focus on providing our members and patients with an exceptional care experience,” said Senior Vice President and Area Manager for Kaiser Permanente Irene Chavez in a prepared release. “This downtown location will be highly utilized, as Kaiser Permanente remains committed to improving the health and well-being of our members, patients and the Santa Cruz community.”
George, a county resident of more than 20 years, expressed how much it means to her to have an office quite literally surrounded by the vibrant and unique Santa Cruz culture. The walls on both floors feature paintings, murals and installations from various local Santa Cruz County artists and George said she often takes a moment to listen and enjoy the music and singing that echoes up from the street into her office.
“I feel very privileged to be here,” she said. “It pulls you away from the grind of the daily work and you're like, `wow, life is happening outside.'”
The Cooper Street office will operate 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.