Kaiser Permanente Opens New 130,000-Square-Foot Medical Center in Halethorpe, Maryland

State-of-the-Art Facility Features more than 25 Medical Specialties, Includes 24/7 Urgent Care, Pharmacy, Laboratory, and Radiology Services

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, an award-winning not-for-profit health plan and care provider, opened the doors to its new South Baltimore County Medical Center on Monday, April 8, offering a vast array of medical services including around-the-clock urgent care, conveniently located under one roof.

"Our new South Baltimore County Corner Medical Center not only provides convenience by making it easier for Kaiser Permanente members to access our top-notch care and 21^st century technology, but also represents critical job growth," said Kim Horn, President, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. "This new facility, which offers members a broad array of services including specialty and primary care, is a tangible example of why  Kaiser Permanente is a better way to receive care."

Located at 1701 Twin Springs Road in Halethorpe, Kaiser Permanente's new four-story building employs more than 330 physicians and staff. The medical center created 175 new jobs in the Baltimore area. The facility boasts more than 25 medical specialties including several new services for Kaiser Permanente members in Baltimore such as an ambulatory surgery center and post-anesthesia care unit, endoscopy unit featuring two gastrointestinal procedure suites, an eye procedure suite, pain management and nuclear medicine (non-cardiac).

"The South Baltimore County Medical Center was built to offer the exceptionally convenient and top-quality patient experience that has made us #1 in the Mid-Atlantic," said Bernadette Loftus, MD, The Permanente Medical Group executive director of the Mid-Atlantic States. "Our physicians are thrilled to care for members in this extraordinary facility that's equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and technology, and will be open to care for members any time of the day or night."

Designed with the member in mind, medical center exam rooms are fully wired with Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect®, the most advanced electronic medical record system available today. Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect® helps clinicians provide outstanding quality, assists patients in making certain they have received the preventive care they require, and maximizes patient safety by identifying risks to patients, such as potentially harmful drug combinations.  Patients also have the added convenience of accessing their medical records, scheduling appointments, sending secure e-mail to their physicians, and ordering prescription refills online, through My Health Manager at kp.org. Kaiser Permanente recently released a mobile optimized version of kp.org app for Android and iPhone devices that gives members access to their own medical information anywhere in the world.

Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States is recognized locally and nationally as one of the top health plans for achieving superior clinical outcomes that help members maximize their total health.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance recognized Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States as the No.1 Commercial and Medicare health plan in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., and No. 15 Commercial plan and No. 12 Medicare health plan in the nation in "NCQA's Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2012-2013." Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States also led the nation with the No.1 performance in breast-cancer screening, and led the region on the majority of the Effectiveness of Care measures in The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set.

Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States has also been ranked "Highest Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in the Mid-Atlantic Region," five years in a row by J.D. Power and Associates.*

Community Family Fun Fest

Mark your calendars…Kaiser Permanente is hosting a Community Family Fun Fest at the South Baltimore County Medical Center on Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith, as well as fun games, medical center tours, health information and more. The event is free of charge and all are welcome.

To learn more about Kaiser Permanente's new South Baltimore County Medical Center, visit www.kp.org/southbaltimore.  

* Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. received the highest numerical score among commercial health plans in the Mid-Atlantic region in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2013 U.S. Member Health Plan Study(SM). Study based on 33,533 total member responses, measuring six plans in the Virginia-Maryland-D.C. region (excludes Medicare and Medicaid). Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of members surveyed December 2012-January 2013.  Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

About Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States
Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States region, headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, provides and coordinates complete health care services for almost 500,000 members through 30 medical centers in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Founded in 1980, Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States is a total health organization comprised of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., and the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, P.C., an independent medical group that features approximately 1000 physicians who provide or arrange care for patients throughout the area. Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States is considered one of Maryland's "Top HMOs," according to the Maryland Health Care Commission. The health plan was ranked in the nation's top 15 commercial and Medicare health plans — and the #1 commercial and Medicare plan for Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. — by "NCQA Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2012–2013 Private." For more information about Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, visit kp.org or follow us on Twitter, twitter.com/KPMidAtlantic.

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States