Kaiser Permanente Releases Economic Impact Study Related to Construction of Modesto Medical Center
Construction of Kaiser Permanente's Modesto Medical Center will generate jobs and economic growth in its service area, which encompasses Stanislaus County, Tracy, Manteca and other parts of southern San Joaquin County, according to a report commissioned by Kaiser that was released Wednesday, the Modesto Bee reports. Kaiser is aiming to begin construction in late summer on a 224-bed hospital to be finished by 2008 that would have private rooms, a labor and delivery center, a newborn intensive care unit and a fully equipped emergency department. Next year, a 49-acre campus with a 150-physician medical office, a surgery center, laboratory, radiology department and pharmacy is scheduled to open. In addition, Kaiser hopes to complete an additional phase of construction by 2013. With the completion of the hospital by 2008, the medical center would have 1,800 employees, from entry-level to highly skilled medical professionals, who would earn an average annual salary of $73,593, according to the report, conducted by the Sedway Group. The new facility was projected to result in 2,636 jobs, $147.7 million in wages and nearly $100 million in sales in the service area by 2008. Completion of the additional construction phase would result in a projected 4,077 jobs and $158.5 million in sales of goods and services by 2013, the report said(Carlson, Modesto Bee, 3/26).
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.