Kaiser Permanente officials plan to meet with Mayor Gary Singh and city leaders to make them aware of ongoing work the medical provider is doing to expand Manteca healthcare services.
On that list is a planned expansion of the emergency room at Kaiser’s Manteca hospital.
Singh, who looks forward to meeting with Kaiser, said Monday expanding the ER at the Manteca hospital is “simply not enough”
“Kaiser members routinely have to go to Stockton and Modesto to access basic care,” Singh said in regards to what be believes is inadequate staffing levels at Kaiser’s Manteca medical offices.
Singh cited numerous incidents where people have had to wait weeks or months to access a specialist.
“We are always looking for opportunities to best meet the needs of our members and support our community, while working to keep high quality care affordable and offering our employees an outstanding work environment,” noted Aphriekah Duhaney-West, senior vice president and area manager, Kaiser Permanente Central Valley, in a press statement.
Since 2018, Kaiser Permanente has invested over $24 million in ongoing improvements to the Manteca hospital campus.
Duhaney-West indicated another $32 million in project work is anticipated through 2025, including site enhancements, equipment replacement, security upgrades, and planning for eventual expansion of the Emergency Department.
Kaiser indicated that in both Manteca and Tracy medical offices, they have invested in refurbishing primary care departments and expanded Women’s Health services, Outpatient Physical Therapy, injection services, and Sleep Medicine services.
In 2022, Kaiser significantly expanded mental health services with the opening of the new Lathrop Behavioral Health Center
Kaiser officials noted every health care provider in the nation has been facing staffing shortages and fighting burnout that started with the pandemic and is still reverberating through the healthcare system today.
“Physicians, caregivers, hospital and medical office staff – and those who support them and provide critical services for patients – have worked side-by-side through some of the most difficult days of the pandemic to care for one another, our patients, and our communities,” Duhaney-West said. “We are grateful to our dedicated care teams for the compassion and expert care they provide.”
The area manager noted Kaiser Permanente is not immune from such challenges, adding Kaiser has “faced them head-on. From excellent pay and benefits, to tuition assistance and training, from team-based problem solving and innovation to strong workplace safety programs, we have always invested in our people.”
Kaiser’s turnover rate is now less than half of the healthcare industry average of 21 percent.
The Kaiser statement also noted an independent arbitrator ruled in favor of Kaiser Permanente on all of the claims of the family of Shawn Edward Washington, a 29-year-old who died on April 26, 2019 due to what they asserted was “medical negligence and systematic racism” at Kaiser.
Singh made his comments about Kaiser “needing to grow with Manteca” and to up its game during a press conference Sunday that Washington’s family called to address what they believe are shortcomings at the Manteca Kaiser facilities.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com.
