Operational Excellence

March 2, 2012

Contact: Diana Yee, 510-271-6671

Kaiser Permanente Executive Vice President Arthur Southam, MD, Discusses Health and Productivity

Bringing total health to the workplace and beyond Kaiser Permanente

OAKLAND, Calif. —  Kaiser Permanente executive vice president, Health Plan Operations, Arthur Southam, MD, presented the keynote address at this year’s 2012 IBI/NBCH Health and Productivity Forum in San Francisco. Dr. Southam spoke about the importance of improving the health of today’s workforce and the many factors that drive health care costs. He said the best way to create sustainable change is by addressing the underlying risk factors that contribute to chronic disease — unhealthy eating habits, smoking and lack of physical activity. Below are excerpts from Dr. Southam’s address. Hear firsthand how best to support a healthy workforce and achieve lasting results. You can also visit kp.org/totalhealthandproductivity for tools and resources to create or improve a culture of health at the workplace.