Kaiser boosts SCV health care
Business leaders, elected officials help health care provider celebrate new local medical offices
About 200 local business leaders and residents filled the community’s newest medical offices this week as Kaiser Permanente held a ceremonial ribbon cutting at the brand-new Santa Clarita Medical Offices, welcoming business leaders and Santa Clarita officials to share in the celebration for the expanded specialty care services to residents of the Santa Clarita Valley.
In partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, community VIPs, local business leaders and community members were welcomed by Kaiser Permanente at the “next generation” specialty care facility on Thursday evening.
Touting a welcoming aesthetic that doesn’t look or feel like a typical clinical setting, the 64,000-square-foot medical office represents Kaiser Permanente’s evolution toward creating highly efficient, environmentally friendly facilities designed to improve the member experience, officials said.
“We’re putting the patient at the center of everything we do and every decision we make,” said Payman Roshan, senior vice president and area manager, Kaiser Permanente Panorama City Medical Center Area.
“When you have a team of doctors working for you, you really get the care you need to thrive,” said James Lau, area medical director for Southern California Permanente Medical Group.
Santa Clarita Medical Offices 2 was designed to enable greater connectivity with physicians using advanced technology, including the option for remote check-in via the Kaiser Permanente app, and text message alerts to notify patients when their provider is ready so they’re not glued to a waiting room chair. Video consultations will also be available ondemand, saving patients valuable time.
“Our members (in Santa Clarita) have had to drive to Panorama City to get their specialized care,” said Zee Apelian, chief administrative officer for the Southern California Permanente Medical Group. “They had to dodge the semis on (the 5 freeway) to get there. No more.”
“Kaiser Permanente’s expansion in Santa Clarita helps to build a strong, robust community infrastructure and advocacy for good health and health services,” Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO John Musella said.
“It’s this kind of community investment,” added Troy Hooper, 2018 chairman of the board of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber, “that ensures the City of Santa Clarita to be a leader in supporting a healthy community and a healthy economy.”