Los Angeles Welcomes the 21st CenturyHospital.

Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Opens State-of-the-Art Hospital Tower

Awards More Than $250,000 to Fund Innovative Community Agencies

LOS ANGELES -- Representatives from all corners of Los Angeles came together today to celebrate Kaiser Permanente's new West Los Angeles hospital

"Kaiser Permanente's West Los Angeles Tower provides cutting-edge technology within an ultimate healing environment," said Area Medical Director Howard Fullman, MD. "The new tower also represents an investment in our community. It is a statement by Kaiser Permanente that our community and our patients are very important to us."

While fulfilling the earthquake safety requirement standards established by Senate Bill 1953, Kaiser Permanente leveraged the opportunity to design and build a new state-of-the-art medical tower. The tower is the first of Kaiser Permanente's 11 new or renovated facilities in Southern California. This represents a $4 billion investment in the future health of Kaiser Permanente members and the communities it serves. The landmark facility includes:

* The Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, the first of its kind in the country, which uses laparoscopic surgery to produce dramatic results for more than 100 different procedures, resulting in less pain and blood loss with faster recovery and shorter hospital stays.

* Operating rooms that offer the latest advances such as high definition cameras to magnify minute details and broaden the surgeon's field of vision, an innovation that can save lives during surgery.

* Computer terminals in almost every hospital and exam room will allow providers immediate access to a paperless medical chart system, Kaiser Permanente's HealthConnect, the largest initiative of its kind in the country.

* An Emergency department twice the size of Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles' previous space now has 52 treatment rooms.

* Spacious new labor and delivery suites that are designed with a home-like look and feel.

* Natural, light-filled interiors, a soothing color palette, and a tranquil garden and courtyard are all designed to help promote healing.

The dedication ceremony in the Healing Garden at Kaiser Permanente's West Los Angeles Medical Center (6041 Cadillac Avenue, Los Angeles, 90034) was attended by numerous well-wishers, including California State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas and Councilmember Herb Wesson, as well as Kaiser Permanente Southern California regional leaders: Benjamin Chu, MD, MPH, president, Kaiser Permanente's Southern California region; Jeffrey Weisz, MD, executive medical director, Southern California Permanente Medical Group; William Caswell, vice president, marketing and business development; and Bernard Tyson, senior vice president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals. A highlight of the event was the presentation of more than $250,000 in community benefit grants to 35 local organizations who have developed innovative programs that are making a difference in the health and wellness of communities throughout Los Angeles.

Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a nonprofit, group practice prepayment program with Southern California headquarters in Pasadena, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 3.3 million members in Southern California. Today it encompasses the nonprofit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Kaiser Permanente's Southern California Region includes more than 49,919 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 6,000 physicians representing all specialties. www.kaiserpermanente.org

Editor's note:

For B-roll of the laparoscopic surgery suite or to schedule videotaping in the labor and delivery suites, contact Laura Lee, Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles (cell 310-283-2181, Pager 323-857-2500 #2177).