Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers perform 67 outpatient surgeries as part of Free Surgery Day

In partnership with local community health care agencies, three Kaiser Permanente Southern California Medical Centers, opened their doors this morning to perform a total of 67 outpatient surgeries as part of a region-wide Free Surgery Day.

“Every person on the surgical team walks away with a real sense of having given back to the community”

The Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center, in partnership with East Valley Community Health Center, celebrated its first Operation Baldwin Park Surgery Day, providing sixteen uninsured San Gabriel Valley residents with outpatient hernia surgeries.

The Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center's Otay Mesa facility performed 40 surgeries today, including gallbladder removals, hernia repairs, cataract removals, and other gynecological procedures. This is the second year that Kaiser Permanente San Diego partners with the San Diego County Medical Society Foundation to provide free surgeries as part of their Project Access San Diego. Since 2008, this partnership has provided 200 uninsured San Diegans access to much needed medical services.

Meanwhile, in partnership with Access OC, Kaiser Permanente Orange County held its sixth Free Surgery Day. Eleven residents were treated this morning at the Kaiser Permanente Alton/Sand Canyon Surgical Center, bringing the total in Orange County to almost 100 free surgeries since the program began in 2004. Among the procedures performed were hemorrhoidectomies, hernia repairs, lipoma excisions, ACL repairs and gallbladder removals.

"Today's Surgery Day is part of a broader effort by Kaiser Permanente medical centers throughout Southern California and their community partners, to provide free surgical procedures to low income, uninsured and underinsured individuals," said Benjamin Chu, MD, president of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Region. "These procedures will make significant improvements to the patients' quality of life, as many have been unable to work due to their medical conditions," he added.

More than 250 medical specialists, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and technicians, performed the outpatient surgeries at the three locations. The patients will also receive follow-up care and necessary medication.

"Our physicians and medical staff are very enthusiastic about the impact and difference they can make in the lives of so many individuals," said Jeffrey Weisz, MD, executive medical director of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group. "Every person on the surgical team walks away with a real sense of having given back to the community," he added.

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente