Adapting to Changing Needs
The Kaiser Permanente (formerly Group Health) Tacoma Specialty Clinic provides access to many outpatient medical specialists for Kaiser members living in the South Sound. The goal of this project was to improve the patient experience in this existing four-story medical office building by adopting a new operational model, adopting a versatile service approach that clusters related specialties. Specialties at this facility include allergy, audiology, cardiology, dermatology, eye care, internal medicine, general surgery, genetics, oncology/hematology, infusion, pain treatment, lab, mental health, nutrition services, obstetrics, occupational medicine, otolaryngology, physical therapy, plastic surgery, podiatry, rheumatology, sleep medicine, urgent care, urology, women’s health, and wound care. There is also an urgent care center and pharmacy in the building.
To realize this reorganization, CKA recognized and redesigned many areas across all four levels, which included reconfiguring and refreshing the lobby. This new layout enables improved exam room utilization, simplified cross-referrals, and enhanced communication. The project included modifying exam rooms to support multiple specialties for increased flexibility and capacity. Staff reception areas and clinic workstations were updated with modular furniture to meet system standards and improve ergonomics.
The project was implemented in multiple phases to allow the facility to minimize patient inconvenience during construction. The end result is a building that provides easier navigation for patients, a more pleasant environment, increased capacity, and better adaptability for the future.
-
Clinic Remodel
