By Jo Moreland
Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce
For The Alpine Sun
ALPINE —- Kaiser Permanente literally rolled into Alpine for its grand opening!
The major healthcare organization’s mobile health vehicle began operating June 18 in the Alpine Community Center’s parking lot at 1830 Alpine Blvd. It will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month.
By Jo Moreland
Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce
For The Alpine Sun
ALPINE —- Kaiser Permanente literally rolled into Alpine for its grand opening!
The major healthcare organization’s mobile health vehicle began operating June 18 in the Alpine Community Center’s parking lot at 1830 Alpine Blvd. It will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month.
The medically-equipped tractor/trailer’s doctors and nurses are trained to provide quality, convenient primary care services to Kaiser members and non-members.
“You deserve excellent health care and I think we’re going to provide that,” Dr. Kenneth Antons of the Southern California Kaiser Permanente Physicians’ Partnership said at the health vehicle’s June 4 ribbon cutting.
The Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce was there to welcome Kaiser Permanente, a new Chamber member. Chamber Chairman Ben Everhart of Comfort Keepers pointed out that they already have a relationship with Kaiser.
“From a business perspective, this is awesome,” Everhart said.
Joe Browning, senior congressional liaison for Chamber member Congressman Duncan D. Hunter, presented the Kaiser staff with a federal Certificate of Recognition.
Kaiser representatives praised Sue Roff, executive director of the Alpine Community Center, and the center’s board for helping to get the mobile health vehicle to Alpine.
“I know a lot of citizens in our community who have Kaiser (membership) and they’re ecstatic,” Roff said.
At least 25 percent of Kaiser’s patients are in East San Diego County, said Kathy Dundovich, Kaiser’s operations administrator for this area.
The mobile health vehicle, which also serves Ramona and downtown San Diego, provides office visits, immunizations, prescription orders and lab test orders. The staff can screen for blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass and help manage such conditions as diabetes and asthma.
“We’re going to do almost anything they can do at a routine visit,” including electrocardiograms, blood draws and Pap smears, Dundovich said.
The medical rig has two exam rooms, a laboratory/medical preparation area, a physician documentation state, a waiting room, a wheelchair lift and a wheelchair scale.
To schedule an appointment, call (800) 290-5000. Call (619) 641-4300 to request the mobile health vehicle for a community or employer event.
