Press Releases: Ohio
June 19, 2006
Kaiser Permanente Cleveland Heights Medical Center Opens New Emergency Services Pavilion
CLEVELAND – On June 20, 2006, Kaiser Permanente of Ohio will open the doors to a new $14.4 million, 49,000 square-foot emergency services pavilion. Constructed adjacent to the KP Cleveland Heights Medical Center, the new facility is one of Kaiser Permanente’s largest recent construction expansion projects and represents a major investment in the Ohio region.
Since 1994, Kaiser Permanente has operated an emergency department, clinical decision unit and pharmacy at the main campus of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF). The relocation of these services to the Cleveland Heights Medical Center campus better positions Kaiser Permanente to meet the demand for community-based medical service delivery.
“This project underscores Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to improving and streamlining services for our Ohio members,” said Patricia Kennedy Scott, president, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Ohio. “It also fits with our mission of being partners with, and advocates for, our members, and providing them with affordable, high-quality health care services to improve their health.”
“The combination of highly trained staff, advanced diagnostic, imaging and treatment technology, a new electronic medical record system and easy access for members all adds up to cohesive, coordinated care,” said Ronald L. Copeland, MD, president and medical director of the Ohio Permanente Medical Group, the organization of Ohio physicians who care for Kaiser Permanente patients here.
Adjacent to the 16-room emergency services area is a 24-bed clinical decision unit, designed for patients whose symptoms or conditions require short-term monitoring or stabilization prior to discharge. The emergency services area also features a new imaging services suite, and is linked with a laboratory for on-site analysis of blood products and other tissue samples, as well as a pharmacy. The new emergency services/clinical decision area is staffed to be fully operational 24 hours a day. The new pavilion also includes shelled-in space on the second floor to accommodate expansion of services when needed.
A transition plan is in place to accommodate Kaiser Permanente members who seek emergency care on June 20 at Kaiser Permanente’s former emergency services site at the Cleveland Clinic. Members will still be checked in at the CCF location until 10 a.m. on June 20th. Kaiser Permanente emergency medicine staff will remain to care for patients who were registered prior to 10 a.m., and will stay on site at CCF until the last of the patients are released. KP members who show up during that time frame will be triaged and directed to the appropriate venue for care. Non-emergent patients will be directed to the new Kaiser Permanente Cleveland Heights Medical Center emergency services area.
A proactive mailing to all Kaiser Permanente Ohio member households was conducted to inform Kaiser Permanente Ohio members of the transition of services. Additionally, on- site messaging (e.g., signs, KP medical facility video towers, and interpersonal communications) is in place to help get the message out.
Kaiser Permanente’s Cleveland Heights Medical Center is located at 10 Severance Circle, Cleveland Hts., OH, 44118.
Kaiser Permanente is America’s leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a not-for-profit, group practice program headquartered in Oakland, Calif. Kaiser Permanente serves more than 8.5 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Today it encompasses the not-for-profit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Permanente Medical Groups. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 145,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 12,000 physicians representing all specialties.
In Northeast Ohio, Kaiser Permanente addresses the health care needs of nearly 150, 000 members in a nine-county area. Services are provided by over 180 Ohio Permanente Medical Group physicians, 2,900 network affiliated physicians and more than 1,900 non-physician employees. In July 2005, Kaiser Permanente of Ohio celebrated 41 years of providing care in Northeast Ohio.
New Emergency Services, Cleveland Heights Medical Center
Imaging Services (Radiology) Suite Highlights
All of the new imaging equipment for the Emergency Services facility uses digital technology, which means that results are produced quickly, can be viewed from multiple locations by authorized KP clinicians, printed from a special laser printer or burned to a CD so patients can keep copies. Digital technology also greatly facilitates image retrieval and archiving.
Siemens Axiom Aristos MX 80 digital radiographic (DR) system
This digital X-ray machine’s versatility makes it well suited for emergency services use. It provides high quality images using comparatively lower levels of radiation than traditional radiography. Virtually any clinical projections, from skull to spine to extremities, can be performed with ease and a high degree of patient comfort.
GE LightSpeed 16-slice computed tomography (CT) system
Computed tomography (CT) combines the power of special x-ray technology and computers to obtain detailed cross-sectional pictures of body structures and organs. It can quickly produce precise images of the brain, abdomen, pelvis and other organs and regions of the body.
Acuson Sequoia ultrasound system
Ultrasound, or sonography, uses high-frequency sound waves to produce precise images of structures inside the body. The main advantage of ultrasound is “real time” imaging: it can show the movement of internal tissues and organs and blood flow. The Acuson Sequoia delivers consistent image content, enhanced detail, superior contrast resolution and penetration, and excellent color Doppler sensitivity.
GE AMX-4 portable radiographic unit
This portable X-ray unit can be used for limited bedside imaging for patients not physically able to be transported to the imaging department in the main pavilion of the Cleveland Heights Medical Center.
Kaiser Permanente at a glance:
- America’s leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945 as a nonprofit, group practice prepayment program. Headquarters in Oakland, Calif. Serves the health care needs of 8.5 million members in 9 states and the District of Columbia.
- Presence in Ohio since 1964.
- Approximately 150,000 Ohio members.
- Services provided by more than 180 Ohio Permanente Medical Group physicians, 2,900 network affiliated physicians and more than 1,900 non-physician employees.
- Medical Office facilities at Avon, Bedford, Chapel Hill, Cleveland Heights, Fairlawn, Lakewood, Parma (includes emergency services area), Strongsville, Twinsburg and Willoughby.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a not-for-profit; group practice prepayment program headquartered in Oakland, Calif. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of more than 8.7 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Today it encompasses the not-for-profit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Permanente Medical Groups. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 156,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 13,000 physicians representing all specialties.
In Northeast Ohio, Kaiser Permanente addresses the health care needs of nearly 150,000 members in a nine-county area. Services are provided by more than 180 Ohio Permanente Medical Group physicians, 3,000 network affiliated physicians and more than 1,900 non-physician employees. In 2007, Kaiser Permanente of Ohio celebrated 43 years of providing care in Northeast Ohio.
