Pharmacist Intern

Ailing MLK Hospital to receive $25-million grant from Kaiser Permanente. Medical equipment in a tent at at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in Willowbrook. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) Aug. 12, 2026 12:08 PM PT See more from the L.A. Times in Google Search. Set Travel in local as preferred * Kaiser Permanente will give Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital $25 million to expand its emergency department, which has been treating some patients in tents outside. * The Willowbrook hospital has received millions of dollars in what amount to bailouts from the state and Los Angeles County as it has faced strong economic headwinds in recent years. Healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente said it will give ailing Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital a $25-million grant to help expand its overcrowded emergency department. The move comes as the Willowbrook hospital faces a dire financial picture, as The Times reported this month. The Willowbrook hospital, which serves hundreds of mostly low-income emergency patients daily, anticipates losing $80 million to $100 million of annual funding as a result of Medicaid changes under last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or HR1, that go into effect in January. "This magnificent gift from Kaiser Permanente expands space for patient care in our Hope Emergency Center - a critical need given the volume our emergency department handles," Dr. Elaine Batchlor, chief executive of MLK Community Healthcare, said in an email. "This support," she added, "will provide our community with the space it deserves." In order to assist with the expansion, Kaiser Permanente, a nonprofit integrated care and coverage organization, is providing the grant and loaning a $7-million modular building to ensure the hospital can continue emergency care uninterrupted while construction is underway. "Our grant is about service and partnership for the benefit of the people of South Los Angeles," said John Yamamoto, vice president for community health and government relations for Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. He described the expansion as "a shovel-ready project that addresses a clear need for access to care and expanded emergency services." MLK Hospital currently treats some patients in large, air-conditioned tents set up on the asphalt outside. It has converted a waiting room, meditation room and other spaces into treatment areas. The South L.A. hospital has operated in the red in recent years and received a total of $68 million in what amount to bailouts from the state and Los Angeles County between 2023 and 2025. Of that, $29 million came in the form of one-time payments of so-called "leftover" county funds collected via Measure B, a 2002 ballot initiative that levies a form of property tax. The hospital has pushed for "ongoing" Measure B funding, which has been allocated to hospitals that have trauma centers - which MLK Hospital does not have - despite the fact that many of the 13 hospitals that have received the funds in recent years are in far better financial shape. Last week, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion to hire a consultant to reevaluate how the county allocates Measure B funds. The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning. By continuing, you agree to its Terms of Service, which include arbitration and a class action waiver. You agree that Travel in local and its third-party vendors may collect and use your information, including through cookies, pixels and similar technologies, for the purposes set forth in its Privacy Policy such as personalizing your experience and ads. Connor Sheets is an investigative and enterprise reporter for the Los Angeles Times.

Kaiser Permanente has appointed Cortney Eisses as regional president of Kaiser Permanente in Colorado. Eisses has served as interim president since February 2026. Eisses joined Kaiser Permanente in 2003 and has over 20 years of experience spanning front-line care, nursing leadership, and executive operations. She previously served as vice president of hospital and post-acute care in 2022, leading efforts to improve affordability, quality, access, and care experience. The appointment comes as Kaiser Permanente continues investing in Colorado through new medical facilities, an expanded hospital network, and additional care options. Under Eisses's leadership, Kaiser Permanente received the 2026 Mile High United Way Community Champion Award for Social Impact. Eisses holds a Master of Science in strategic leadership in healthcare organisations from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Seattle Pacific University.

Kaiser Permanente Nor Cal hospitals recognized as "high performing" for treating complex medical conditions and procedures. U.S. News & World Report's annual study rates Kaiser hospitals among nation's best for providing high-quality, specialized care. Antioch, Richmond ranked Best Regional Hospitals and among best in state. By Elissa Harrington, Senior Media Relations & Public Relations Representative, Kaiser Permanente Northern California OAKLAND, CA - Kaiser Permanente Northern California's hospitals are nationally recognized as "high performing" for treating complex medical conditions and procedures including congestive heart failure, pneumonia, and stroke. U.S. News & World Report's 2026-2027 Best Hospitals annual study rates Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals as among the top 30% of hospitals in the nation for at least one of the 37 measures evaluated. Approximately 4,500 hospitals participated in the study, which analyzes performance in 14 specialty care areas and 23 procedures and conditions. The "high performing" designation honors those hospitals that deliver high-quality care when treating complex medical conditions, including congestive heart failure, pneumonia, colorectal cancer surgery, stroke, and diabetes. Kaiser Permanente hospitals are consistently recognized as among the top hospitals in the nation for providing high-quality, safe patient care that leads to improved health outcomes. "Kaiser Permanente continues to be a national leader in preventing disease, providing world-class treatment, and using evidence-based research to help our patients and members live longer and healthy lives," said Mike Bowers, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente's Northern California region. "Our clinicians and staff are delivering exceptional care to our patients every day getting them the right care when they need it." Top hospitals in California Eight Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are designated by U.S. News & World Report as "Best Regional Hospitals" and are ranked among the best in the state: Antioch, Richmond, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Clara, Roseville and South Sacramento. Three Kaiser Permanente hospitals are also ranked among the top 50 in the nation for providing high-quality specialty care: * San Francisco is ranked 34th for cardiology, heart and vascular surgery * Santa Clara is ranked 42nd for cardiology, heart and vascular surgery * Vallejo is ranked 45th for rehabilitation Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa is also rated high-performing nationally for its geriatric care. "Everything we do is centered around making sure our patients receive high-quality and high-value care," said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, chief executive officer and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. "This recognition underscores the strength of our integrated model and the dedication of our physicians, nurses, and care teams, who provide compassionate, evidence-based care for our members and patients every day." In its hospital analysis, U.S. News & World Report uses publicly available data such as volume, mortality rates, infection rates, staffing levels, and patient satisfaction rates, among other factors. The annual ratings and rankings are designed to help patients make informed decisions about where to receive care for challenging health conditions or elective procedures. About Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. Contra Costa Herald is recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of its members and the communities Contra Costa Herald serve. Contra Costa Herald currently serve 12.9 million members in 9 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Its expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.