South Los Angeles celebrates opening of new Kaiser Permanente medical facility

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined other local community leaders including Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, and Los Angeles City Councilmembers Bernard C. Parks and Jan Perry to celebrate the opening of the Kaiser Permanente South Los Angeles Medical Offices. The new facility, at the intersection of Manchester and Denker, will serve more than 80,000 Kaiser Permanente members who live in the South Los Angeles area.

"The opening of the new Kaiser Permanente South Los Angeles Medical Office Building is one example of ways we can address the need for quality health care in the South Los Angeles community," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

"The new facility is especially meaningful for South Los Angeles residents like Elmae Robinson, the 81-year-old mother of one of my staff members, who has been a Kaiser Permanente member for more than 30 years and is thrilled to now have her doctors and all of these services just down the street."

The new 15,000 square foot facility represents a $10 million investment in South Los Angeles. Kaiser Permanente members throughout the area will be able to get primary care, X-rays, lab tests and pick-up prescriptions - all in one convenient location closer to home.

Kaiser Permanente has a long history of serving members who reside in South Los Angeles and supporting clinics, grassroots organizations and schools in the area with more than $8 million in grants and services to South Los Angeles organizations. Kaiser Permanente's Watts Counseling and Learning Center has offered counseling and education services to community members since 1967.

"Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to improving the health of people living and working in the communities we serve," said Benjamin K. Chu, MD, MPH, president of Kaiser Permanente Southern California. "With the opening of the Kaiser Permanente South Los Angeles Medical Offices, we reinforce our commitment to South Los Angeles, which we have been serving for the past 60 years. We will continue to invest in organizations and resources that help make South Los Angeles a healthier place."

Kaiser Permanente members who visit the Kaiser Permanente South Los Angeles medical offices will have access to Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect™, their electronic health record, giving them quick access to their personal health information.

Recognizing the link between the health of the environment and the health of people, the new medical office building incorporates many elements of environmentally friendly design including a "cool roof" to cut energy use; landscaping with native plants to lower water use; PVC-free carpeting and materials with lower toxin emissions; and safer cleaning products that help ensure everyone's health.

"Through our advanced technology, our physicians will be able to coordinate care with every other physician, pharmacist, and specialist that is treating our members," said Tumani Leatherwood, MD, physician in charge for Kaiser Permanente's South Los Angeles Medical Offices. "With our electronic health records, expert physicians and staff all in place, we look forward to welcoming our members to our new South Los Angeles Medical Offices."

The South Los Angeles Medical Office Building will begin providing services to members on Monday, April 11.