April 2007

Although PAMF has been serving San Mateo County residents since its founding in 1930, each year more patients from the county come to PAMF for their health care. In response to this growing patient demand, PAMF is continuing to bring its services closer to where patients live and work.

In December, OB/Gyn physicians Julie O'Callahan, John David Hoff, Gary Hoff and Marian Kim joined PAMF to form the Redwood City Women's Health Center. The Center, located at 2950 Whipple Avenue in Redwood City, is PAMF's newest clinic in southern San Mateo County. Joined by nurse practitioners Marjan Hafezi and Kathryn Price, the physicians provide obstetric and gynecologic care, including high-risk obstetrics, routine gynecologic care, and medical and surgical treatment of gynecologic problems.

For patients needing care beyond women's health, PAMF's Redwood City Center has added several specialties to complement its primary care services in family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. The Center, whose opening in 2005 was prompted by the growth and popularity of PAMF's Redwood Shores Health Center, now offers dermatology, nutrition counseling, podiatric medicine and surgery, and laboratory and radiology services.

In January, diagnostic radiology services once offered at PAMF's Redwood Shores Health Center moved to the Redwood City Center, featuring state-of-the-art plain film imaging equipment that produces images of superior quality to ensure patients receive the highest-quality care. (Screening mammography continues to be offered by appointment at the Redwood Shores Health Center.) The Redwood Shores location also offers laboratory services; primary care, including family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics; and specialty care including allergy, dermatology, and psychiatry and behavioral health.

PAMF is also continuing to move forward with its plan to build a new medical center in San Carlos. Recently, the San Carlos Traffic and Transportation Commission and Planning Commission voted unanimously to accept the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the PAMF San Carlos Center. If the EIR is certified by the City Council as adequate and complete, hearings will then take place on the merits of the project. Pending city approval of the project, the campus could open by 2011.

"When built, this facility would help to meet the increasing demands for our services from patients in southern San Mateo County," said PAMF President and CEO David Druker, M.D.

The San Carlos Center will include a full range of primary and specialty care physician services, an urgent care center, lab, X-ray and other testing services, as well as a full-service acute care hospital with an emergency room, all in one location. Since announcing its intention to build the PAMF San Carlos Center in 2003, PAMF has received overwhelming support for the project from San Carlos residents. More than 5,000 residents have signed a petition endorsing the project, which a recent poll showed that more than 70 percent of residents support.