About Kaiser Permanente | Heritage
February 7, 2011
Henry J. Kaiser inducted into Modern Healthcare’s ‘Health Care Hall of Fame’
Henry J. Kaiser, Co-Founder of Kaiser Permanente
Sidney R. Garfield (L) and Henry J. Kaiser (R) at dedication of Permanente Foundation Hospital in Oakland, 1942 | View full image >
In 1927 Henry Kaiser took on a $20-million Cuban road-building contract. Here he is pictured (striped tie) with his partners and associates for the 200-mile project. | View full image >
The Six Companies Tour, Hoover Dam, 1935 | View full image >
Henry Kaiser takes his hat off to all the Hoover Dam workers, 1935 | View full image >
Kaiser Permanente co-founder Henry J. Kaiser has been inducted into Modern Healthcare’s Health Care Hall of Fame.
Modern Healthcare and the American College of Healthcare Executives created the Health Care Hall of Fame in 1988. The criteria for the award start with this statement: “This program honors men and women who have made outstanding contributions to health care in this country and around the world.” Kaiser clearly did this, and then some.
With Kaiser Permanente co-founder, Sidney R. Garfield, MD (1906-1984) — himself a 1988 inductee in the Modern Healthcare Health Care Hall of Fame — Kaiser forged Kaiser Permanente out of the challenge to provide Americans quality medical care during the Great Depression and World War II, when most people could not afford to see a doctor.
The two health care pioneers endorsed prepayment that spread the cost of care over a large number of healthy people, and provided stable revenue for medical care, clinical research and education to enhance the quality of care.
“I am very pleased to hear that my grandfather, Henry J. Kaiser, has been selected as one of Modern Healthcare’s 2011 Hall of Fame inductees,” said Kim J. Kaiser of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Board of Directors. “Henry Kaiser created many successful businesses during his life, but he was most proud of Kaiser Permanente. It is fitting that he join 1988 Hall of Fame inductee, Sidney R. Garfield, MD, since it was the partnership between an entrepreneur and business leader and a dedicated and innovative physician which created the Kaiser Permanente pre-paid, integrated health care model. Henry Kaiser and Sid Garfield would be pleased to see that how their partnership continues today.”
Prior to this year’s Modern Healthcare Hall of Fame inductees, 87 health care visionaries and innovators had been inducted. Among those are Clara Barton (1993), Robert Wood Johnson (1990), C. Everett Koop (1997), and Edward “Ted” Kennedy (2010).
For more information, read this item in “A History of Total Health,” Kaiser Permanente’s history blog.
