Same Practice, New Team

On June 30, Prasad Kilaru, MD, stepped out of his solo practice on Civic Center Drive for the last time. On July 1, he walked back into a new practice with Washington Health Medical Group (WHMG) – in the same office. After practicing on his own in Fremont for nearly a quarter of a century, the renowned hand and plastic surgeon has joined WHMG to add his expertise and experience to the robust offerings the medical group already offered. After five months, he’s still excited about the move.

“Meet the new WHMG Hand and Plastic Division,” Dr. Kilaru said with a smile. “I’ve been on the medical staff at Washington Hospital, now Washington Health, for almost 25 years. I was chief of staff from 2019-2021. I already had a very good working relationship with the executive team, the Foundation, and WHMG.

“It was time to transition to being part of the whole group, instead of just a portion of the group,” he continued. “The move allows me to leverage all the resources and contacts Washington Health has, to be able to better serve more of our community. It’s the same, just rebranded. It’s a seamless transition for me, my staff, and, most importantly, our patients.”

Dr. Kilaru shared that joining WHMG was in keeping with a promise to his patients. “My goal has always been to provide the highest level of medical care using the most effective and advanced technologies in the industry, while delivering personalized and compassionate service,” he explained. “Our patients are getting the best possible experience with me working with all of the WHMG physicians, NPs and PAs, plus nurses and support staff. I can do my best because we have the best supporting us.”

Community Benefits

As a solo practitioner, Dr. Kilaru used a proprietary electronic medical records (EMR) system. Now, as part of WHMG, his practice is using the Epic EMR, MyChart, that allows patients to access their medical records online. They can get test results, send him messages and make appointments through the app or online, all in one place. It’s an efficiency Dr. Kilaru likes.

“I’m happy I can communicate with my patients in an easy-to-use format,” he said. “It saves them time and allows us to give them test results, schedule follow-ups and hear any concerns they may have.

“While patients can make appointments online, it’s still probably best to call the office for an appointment because I’m very busy and booked out quite a ways,” he continued. “My office people can work magic if someone needs an emergency visit. All of us in the office are now part of WHMG, so my patients will be comfortable working with the office staff they know and love. The continuity of care is very important.”

Complex Care

Dr. Kilaru said Tri-City residents will find additional benefits to augment that continuity of care in his collaboration with other WHMG physicians. He will continue to offer a wide range of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, working cooperatively with WH orthopedics, the WH Women’s Center, the WH Ostomy Clinic, the WH Emergency Department and the Trauma Center. Because Washington Health offers a variety of options, he can perform procedures in his office, in the surgery center, and in the hospital operating room – depending on the need and severity of each case.

“Less difficult cases can be accomplished in the office, while more complicated cases will be handled in the surgery center,” Dr. Kilaru said. “Very sick patients or those with very complex cases will be done in the hospital itself. The ability to tailor care for individual patient needs is a big benefit to our community.”

Dr. Kilaru finds working hand-in-hand with other WH practitioners provides additional benefits.

“I serve as the director of the Washington Center for Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine and support patients after surgery at the Ostomy Clinic,” Dr. Kilaru said. “Because I specialize in multiple other areas of plastic surgery, including hand surgery, breast reconstruction, reconstruction after skin cancer MOHS procedures, and reconstruction and repair following trauma, I work closely with specialists across the board.

“Working with the different specialties is very satisfying,” he shared. “It’s like having a jigsaw puzzle where somebody has lost a few pieces, but we still have to make the whole puzzle. We’re restoring wholeness to our patients.”

Dr. Kilaru said he continues to find great fulfillment in helping restore both form and function to area patients. “I love the depth and width of plastic surgery,” he explained. “We operate on different body parts, patients in different age groups and at different levels of health, all to bring them back to a sense of normalcy.”

For more information on hand and plastic surgery services at Washington Health Medical Group.