Kaiser Permanente and South Los Angeles Community Join Hands

PASADENA, Calif. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Local community leaders including Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles City Councilmember Bernard Parks and St. John's Well Child & Family Center Executive Director Jim Mangia came together today to imprint their hands in decorative tiles that will become a permanent element of the future Kaiser Permanente South Los Angeles Medical Offices. The symbolic gesture kicks off construction of the new facility which will open in 2011 at the intersection of Manchester and Denker (1550 West Manchester Avenue). More than 80,000 Kaiser Permanente members live in the South Los Angeles area.

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

"Closures and cut backs in health care facilities in South Los Angeles have only widened the disparities in the community and illustrate the need for dramatic national health care reform," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. "While the opening of Kaiser Permanente's new facility won't solve the health care crisis in the area, it takes a practical step in closing such gaps."

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. To date, Kaiser Permanente has provided $8 million in grants to South Los Angeles organizations including UMMA Community Clinic, Watts Healthy Farmers Market and St. John's Well Child & Family Center.

"The new facility brings us full circle in serving the South Los Angeles community," said Dr. Tumani Leatherwood, physician in charge for Kaiser Permanente South Los Angeles Medical Offices. "An established permanent home will not only allow us to provide high quality health services, but will strengthen our existing ties."

Recognizing the link between the health of the environment and the health of people, the new medical office building will incorporate the following green features and practices:

• Reduction of the toxicity and volume of waste through product selection
• An increase of post-consumer recycled content
• Selection of reusable and durable products
• Elimination of mercury content and targeting other toxins for elimination
• Implementation of a comprehensive EPP (Environmental Preferable Purchasing) policy that requires the disclosure of prioritized chemicals
• Reduction of water use by choosing native plants in landscaping, using automatic faucets and researching technologies such as low water urinals and dual flush toilets

Construction for the new facility is scheduled to begin in late 2009.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 3.3 million members in Southern California. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.

Kaiser Permanente
Southern California Region
Socorro Serrano
Office: 626-405-5534
Mobile: 323-627-5595