Kaweah Health Opens New Akers Clinic in Visalia

Kaweah Health's newest outpatient clinic opened April 23 at the Tulare/Akers Professional Building on the corner of Akers Street and Tulare Avenue.

Known as the Kaweah Health Medical Clinic Akers, the new clinic offers primary care and other services.

The clinic will serve patients in the area while also helping recruit new physicians. Kaweah Health CEO Marc Mertz explained that one challenge with recruiting more physicians to the area is the lack of contemporary clinic space.

"The type of clinic we were looking for didn't exist, so we decided to build it ourselves," Mertz said at the recent ribbon-cutting. "We chose to partner with Tulare County to remodel a portion of this beautiful, well-maintained building."

Once offices for The Cigna Group, the Tulare/Akers Professional Building is now home to the Tulare County Sheriff's Office, Tulare County Elections Office, and the IRS.

Kaweah Health is leasing space from the county for the clinic.

"This is our building, and we are very happy to have Kaweah Health here," Tulare County Supervisor Amy Shuklian said. "Anything the county can do to expand healthcare here is a good thing."

Currently, the new clinic has 20 exam rooms, a procedure room, and a room for mental health appointments.

Family practice physician Dr. Gaylene Soloniuk-Tays will be moving from her Ben Maddox locations, along with nurse practitioners Andrew Kim and Spencer Packer.

Kaweah Health Medical Clinic Akers is located at 5300 W. Tulare Ave., Suite 100, Visalia. To make an appointment or for more information, call (559) 839-2200.