Kern Legacy Health Plan | A Legacy of Good Health | Fall 2015

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KERN Legacy Health Plan went live
in July of 2013. This is the first County of
Kern Employee and Retiree Health Plan
centered around Kern Medical Center
(KMC). Some members have been with
KMC for years, but many choosing this
plan are experiencing KMC for the first
time.
Whether you are new to KMC or not,
you can walk through those doors and
see the transformations taking place right
before your eyes. From the cosmetic look,
to the expansion of services, to the overall
morale and attitude of the staff, the trans-
formation is truly amazing to see.
New at KMC
w wREACH Clinic. A patient-centered
medical home to provide comprehensive
care for those with chronic illnesses. A
pharmacist, a nutritionist, a physician,
a registered nurse and a social worker
collaborate to provide intensive care and
counseling geared toward managing these
conditions and ultimately improving the
quality of life.
w w Expanding services. KMC has recently
acquired access to additional services
with the opening of a Wound Clinic and
a Hand Specialty Clinic.
w w New Ambulatory Surgical Center and
physician offices coming soon. KMC has
leased space—which is currently under-
going renovation—located on Stockdale
Highway. Several KMC physicians will
be treating patients at this location and
providing outpatient surgical procedures.
More information to come.
w w New radiology equipment. New
doesn’t stop at the paint on the walls. The
Emergency Department has acquired a
new x-ray room and equipment. Addi-
tionally, Radiology has a new green CT
machine and has upgraded to a digital
mammography unit.
w w Private rooms. The pediatric unit has
given up some extra space to provide
moms and their new babies with private
postpartum rooms. These rooms are
located on the fourth floor next to Labor
and Delivery.
w w Cosmetic remodeling. KMC is under-
going renovation in many parts of the
hospital. From new flooring, to paint, to
Kern Medical Center—doing our
best to make KMC the place you
choose for your health care needs.
What’s
happening
at KMC?
the pictures on the walls, it is a welcom-
ing and much-needed transformation.
These renovations can be seen in the first
floor lobby of the A wing, the second
floor operating room lobby, the Emer-
gency Department as well as the cafete-
ria. The hospital is creating
a brighter new environ-
ment and there is still
much more to come.
w wPet therapy. The
Auxiliary launched
a pet therapy
program that
aims to improve
patient satisfaction.
Not only are there
therapeutic benefits to
the contact between humans
and animals, but there are also emotional
benefits that can uplift patients and their
families during the healing processes.
KMC is an extraordinary hospital
doing amazing things every day!
Here are just a couple:
w wTrauma center. The Level II trauma
center consists of a specialized team
ready to treat serious, life-threatening
injuries 24/7. The role KMC plays in the
community for trauma patients is vital
as it is the only operating trauma center
between Fresno and Los Angeles.
w wNeonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
The Level II NICU provides the high-
est level of care locally. KMC offers the
NICU in combination with comprehen-
sive labor and delivery services, and the
community’s only high-risk hospital-
based pregnancy program. Access to all
these services under one roof allows for
newborns with critical needs to stay close
to their families and home.
661-868-3280