Kaiser Permanente came to Pueblo in 2009 at a time when there was a growing concern about the number of medical insurance providers willing to provide service to Southern Colorado residents. Kaiser, which provides both health insurance and health care, has helped to fill that void – and today has about 18,000 clients in the Pueblo area.

Those numbers may be increasing soon, as Kaiser broke ground last week on a new office building at the corner of Acero Avenue and Pueblo Boulevard on the South SideThe . The 8,200-square-foot building is expected to take about a year to complete. When it’s finished, it will house facilities for primary care, specialty care, a laboratory, a pharmacy and routine medical imaging services. About 20 people will work at the new building, including two doctors.

Apparently, Kaiser plans to continue leasing space at the Park West Medical Complex on the North Side as well.

Read more at The Pueblo Chieftain.