Safety is our top priority as we gradually welcome patients back into our facilities for routine and specialty care appointments and procedures.
Strict safety practices ensure our facilities are clean and safe.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Kaiser Permanente’s dedicated staff and physicians have provided critical care to our patients through virtual visits and in-person services. While member feedback tells us many people prefer the convenience and efficiency of virtual visits, we are gradually increasing the number of appointments in our medical offices to connect our members to care that can only be completed in person. This includes nonurgent procedures, treatment for ongoing or chronic conditions, and health screenings and immunizations to prevent life-threatening illness.
We encourage all members to get the care they need, whether an urgent visit to the emergency department or an important lab test that may be tempting to postpone, as a critical part of staying healthy during this challenging time. Safety is our first priority, and we’ve expanded our rigorous safety practices with enhanced cleaning and sanitizing protocols, social distancing measures, and new requirements for screening and masks.
So, while many things will be familiar, our members will see some important differences from the beginning to the end of a visit. These include:
We have been here for our members throughout the pandemic and we are here for them now. We will continue to expand innovations that we adopted as the pandemic spread — including the use of drive-through testing, pharmacy mail-delivery and curbside pickup, digital member-facing tools, and telehealth appointments.
Together, these important innovations and changes will ensure Kaiser Permanente continues to be a safe place to receive care for all members, including those most vulnerable to COVID-19, and will also help keep our nurses, staff, and physicians safe now and in the event of a potential surge.