Kaiser Permanente expanding metro Atlanta presence

Kaiser Permanente of Georgia is embarking on another expansion in an effort to better coordinate care for its patients – adding a total of nearly 150,000 square feet of space at two existing metro Atlanta sites. The nonprofit health plan is investing roughly $100 million to create one-stop shop medical centers for its patients at locations in Duluth and Kennesaw, with cardiology, nuclear medicine, OB/GYN, pulmonology and other specialty services. Primary care, urgent care and pharmacy services will also be included. Some 100 jobs – 90 of them new positions – will be added at each location, said Rob Schreiner, MD, executive medical director of Southeast Permanente Medical Group. Construction is slated to be completed in spring 2012. The expansions are part of a larger effort by Kaiser to increase its presence in the region and provide more streamlined, cost-effective care. It has grown its number of neighborhood medical offices to 28 – adding 11 new facilities over the past 18 months.