Kaiser Permanente Named Among 2015's Most Wired Health Care Companies

From human resources to health records, Kaiser Permanente uses technology to improve care and value for members

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Jul 09, 2015, 03:27 ET

OAKLAND, Calif., July 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente's California hospitals received high marks today for being among the top 2015 Most Wired™ health care organizations in the nation. The recognition is based on a benchmark survey by the American Hospital Association's Health Forum and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. The results highlight the organization's use of information technology to improve all aspects of its operations, ultimately health care and value for members.

Kaiser Permanente has been on the list three consecutive years. The survey measures technology integration across the health care spectrum — infrastructure, procurement, human resources, security, clinical quality and safety, patient access, care continuum and health information exchange. This year's results show Most Wired hospitals are extremely focused on security and patient engagement.

"Protecting patient health information is a top priority for us. Our members experience the benefits of connecting with us through secure, convenient channels that are easy to see, such as our mobile app, website, and email," said Richard Daniels, executive vice president and chief information officer, Kaiser Permanente. "The vast technology ecosystem that is largely behind the scenes may be less apparent, but it is just as essential to the overall member experience, the effectiveness of our employees, and the efficiency of our operations."

Hospitals & Health Networks' magazine received 741 surveys this year, representing 2,213 hospitals, or roughly 30 percent of all hospitals in the United States.

Kaiser Permanente is widely recognized for its leadership in harnessing health IT to improve quality and care delivery. Kaiser Permanente's electronic health record, is one of the most robust and sophisticated systems in the nation. It securely connects more than 10 million people to their health care teams and their personal health information — taking advantage of Kaiser Permanente's integrated approach to health care.

With Kaiser Permanente's patient portal, My Health Manager on kp.org, members are empowered to manage their health care and the health care of their family members. My Health Manager provides members convenient, 24/7 online access to their health information and critical, time-saving tools, including online appointment scheduling, prescription refill and secure email messaging with doctors.

In 2014 alone, members:

Sent 20 million emails to doctors and other care providers
Viewed 37 million test results online
Refilled 17 million prescriptions online
Scheduled 4 million appointments online

Kaiser Permanente members can access these same features through the convenience of their mobile phones. Since its launch in 2012, Kaiser Permanente's flagship app has been downloaded more than 1 million times on iPhone and Android devices.

"Our advanced and inclusive technologies help us coordinate care better, diagnose health problems sooner and empower our members to become active in managing their health," said Edward Ellison, MD, executive medical director, Southern California Permanente Medical Group. "We continually look for innovative ways to connect our care teams with our patients. The benefits of being wired show up in our clinical quality, patient safety, prevention models and the high level of service we offer our patients."

The Southern California Permanente Medical Group has 5,100 partner physicians and provides medical care to 4 million Kaiser Permanente members in 13 geographic areas from Kern to San Diego County.

"Our comprehensive electronic health record and our vast array of mobile and video applications have allowed us to reduce the chances of our patients dying from cardiovascular disease, cancer and systemic infection by as much as 30 to 40 percent, compared to doctors and hospitals without this technology," said Robert Pearl, MD, executive director and CEO, The Permanente Medical Group. "The combination of outstanding physicians, 21st century technology and a focus on achieving superior quality outcomes, has made us a national model for health care delivery. The beneficiaries are our patients and their families."

The Permanente Medical Group is a physician-led medical group of more than 8,000 physicians serving 3.7 million Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California.

"Congratulations to our nation's Most Wired hospitals for harnessing the potential of information technology to improve quality care and patient safety and lower health care costs," said Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the AHA. "At the forefront of the field, these hospitals are setting the bar for protection of patient data through discerning security measures."

HealthCare's Most Wired Survey, conducted between Jan. 15 and March 15, 2015, is published annually by Health & Hospitals Network.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 10 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our 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: kp.org/share.

Contact: Caitlin Cobb
510-271-5955
[email protected]

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SOURCE Kaiser Permanente