Kaiser Permanente Fresno is celebrating a milestone in its 40-year history: a larger and more technically advanced Emergency Department. This expansion brings more highly specialized emergency and cardiac care to the community.
Employees, physicians, hospital leaders, elected officials, and community members recently gathered on a foggy morning to celebrate and tour the updated space. The official opening is planned for later this month, following completion of hospital licensing surveys.
“As our community grows and we grow our membership, we need to grow our footprint,” said Shahzad Jahromi, MD, physician in chief. “This addition is a testament to the vision and investment Kaiser Permanente has made in the five-county area we serve.”
More space, advanced technology
The Emergency Department expansion includes 41,000 square feet of additional space with more triage rooms for patient care, a larger waiting room, and more rooms to treat those in need of prompt medical attention. The expansion also adds two MRI machines with advanced imaging capabilities to evaluate, diagnose, and monitor medical conditions.
A new cardiac catheterization lab to check your heart, and interventional radiology suites that combine imaging and surgery, are part of the expansion. Both offer minimally invasive procedures and ensure seamless care for patients.
“It’s important for our patients to get the right care at the right time,” Dr. Jahromi said. “I’m excited for our physicians and staff to have this large new space that is equipped with the latest technology to continue to deliver the highest quality care to our members and patients.”
Meeting the needs of a growing community
With more than 160,000 members in the Fresno area, there is increasing demand for access to enhanced medical care and services.
The Emergency Department expansion is the latest effort to meet that demand. A new urgent care clinic was introduced at the main medical center in December. Then in the fall, Kaiser Permanente opened the new Fresno Orchard Plaza Medical Offices — the largest expansion in the Fresno area in 20 years.
“We’re proud to expand our services and building footprint to support our growing community,” said Tyler Hedden, senior vice president and area manager. “This expansion means a tremendous amount to our community in terms of access to high-quality care, and we are honored and proud to be able to better serve our patients and members.”
