Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Changes Lives with Free Surgeries for San Gabriel Valley Residents

East Valley Community Health Center Selects Twenty-four Patients for Community Surgery Day

BALDWIN PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On Saturday, May 21, twenty-four uninsured San Gabriel Valley residents will receive donated outpatient surgeries through the third “Community Surgery Day” held at Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center. This is made possible through a partnership between East Valley Community Health Center (EVCHC), a community clinic located in West Covina, and Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park.

“For our previous surgery days, we provided outpatient surgeries for hernia repairs,” says John Bigley, MD, medical director, Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center. “This time, in addition to the hernia repairs, we are expanding the surgical procedures being offered to include laparoscopic cholecystectomies, lipoma removals, cataract repairs, carpal tunnel releases, trigger finger repairs, tonsillectomies, and colonoscopies. This is made possible thanks to our many volunteers including Kaiser Permanente surgeons, anesthesiologists, gastroenterologists, nurses, operating room technicians, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, and administrative staff who assist that day.” A fourth surgery day is also planned in November.

EVCHC identified the patients, all of which have an income at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines and do not qualify for existing public health assistance. None are able to afford private health insurance. Most are working poor individuals who serve as head of household and struggle to make a living for their families. Having the pain and discomfort associated with these health issues prevents some from working to their full capacity and others from not being able to work at all.

“East Valley Community Health Center and our patients are excited and thankful that Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park has not only continued its Community Surgery Day program, but has actually expanded it. It is a testament to the dedication of the staff and administration that they see the value of growing this program. These surgeries improve the quality of our patient's lives, and the lives of their families. Without Kaiser Permanente, there would never have been an opportunity for this to happen. We thank all the volunteers for serving our community in such an important and tangible way,” says Miles Masatsugu, MD, medical director, East Valley Community Health Center.

ABOUT EAST VALLEY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER (EVCHC)

EVCHC provides comprehensive health care and health education services to low-income and underserved populations of the East San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys.Founded in 1970, EVCHC has evolved from a free clinic that focused on family planning and counseling services into a comprehensive health care provider and, since 2002, a Federally Qualified Health Center. The clinic provides over 59,000 medical visits to more than 21,000 individuals every year. It also serves an additional 20,000 people every year with outreach, education, and prevention services.

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 to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 3.4 million members in Southern California. Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park serves 238,760 members in the San Gabriel Valley through a network of more than 3,100 employees and 460 physicians. 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.

Baldwin Park Medical Center
Gloria Banuelos – Office 626-851-5204
Reyna Del Haro - On-site contact on 05/21/11
Cell 626-975-3650, Pager: 626-728-5442
or
East Valley Community Health Center
Miles Masatsugu, MD, Medical Director
Cell 626-347-0232

Source: Kaiser Permanente