Press Releases: Southern California
April 24, 2010
Kaiser Permanente Gives 67 Uninsured Patients Needed Surgeries
PASADENA, Calif. — In partnership with local community health care agencies, three Kaiser Permanente Southern California Medical Centers opened their doors Saturday morning to perform a total of 67 outpatient surgeries as part of a region-wide ‘Free Surgery Day.’
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.
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 and 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.
