By Robin Miller/ RMiller@TheReporter.com
Posted: 06/19/2009
Kaiser is planning to open the Vacaville hospital this fall, though no official date has been announced. (Joel Rosenbaum / The Reporter)
Kaiser Permanente's new hospital in Vacaville will open this fall.
The health care giant announced the opening Thursday, though no specific date has been set for when the facilities doors will open. Kaiser had announced last November that the opening would be delayed until at least the latter part of this year, due to the downturn in the global economy.
In announcing the planned opening, Joanie Erickson, director of public affairs for Kaiser, said the local hospital will include emergency room services and adult medicine but will initially open without labor and delivery services.
"We know that is an important service to the Vacaville community and some people might be disappointed," Erickson said. "But we want people to know we are aware and will continue to evaluate the community's demand and those services will still be available in Vallejo. And the new emergency room will be fully able to address emergency deliveries."
Labor and delivery services are planned for the site and when the economic conditions are right, Erickson said, adding, "We'll be ready to go."
Labor and delivery services, she noted, require a certain volume of use in order for medical personnel to maintain their skills and the quality of service. Splitting the service between Vallejo and Vacaville didn't make sense at this point, she said.
What the hospital will have is a fully functioning emergency room, the second for the Vacaville community (NorthBay Healthcare's VacaValley John WIlkerson Gateway Realty Hospital also provides emergency care).
Mayor Len Augustine was excited by the announcement.
"That's really good to hear," Augustine said. "The opening will make it easier for everyone around here."
He added that it would also likely help local paramedics transporting Kaiser patients to a more convenient location.
At the time Kaiser announced its delay of the facility last year, the healthcare provider had been hard hit by investment losses and had posted a third-quarter loss of some $399 million.
The firm reported an increase in operating revenue for the first quarter of 2009 and said it had added 12,000 new members during the first three months of the year, bringing its total membership up to more than 8.6 million members.
The announcement of plans for the Vacaville facility may be just the first indication of a turnaround for the firm, which also launched construction of a new facility in Hillsborough earlier this week.
Reporter staff writer Melissa Murphy contributed to this report.
