Kaiser Permanente Plans Expansion In Mid-Atlantic

LANSDOWNE, Md. (AP) -- Health care provider Kaiser Permanente is announcing plans to build new facilities in the Baltimore and Washington areas with the goal of doubling the number of patients it serves in the mid-Atlantic region.

The not-for-profit company announced Wednesday that it will build new facilities by 2013 in Baltimore County, Montgomery County, Washington and in Fairfax County, Va. It also plans to renovate two other centers.

Kaiser currently serves about 500,000 members in the region.

Regional President Marilyn Kawamura tells The Baltimore Sun that Kaiser aims to integrate primary and specialty care under one roof.

In Baltimore County, a new 130,000-square-foot building will take a one-stop approach, offering primary care doctors and specialists. Many of the new facilities will offer services around the clock, including 24-hour urgent care.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)