Press Releases: National
May 15, 2006
Kaiser Permanente to Work With Google As a Significant Contributor to Bring Internet Users More Relevant Health Information
New Google Co-op Technology to Enhance Health Information Search
OAKLAND, Calif. – Kaiser Permanente has been working with Google as one of its initial significant contributors to Google Co-op, www.google.com/coop, a new way for users to search for health-related information on the Internet.
A group of trusted third-party organizations worked with Google to identify and label the best health-related content on the Internet. As one of these significant contributors, Kaiser Permanente has worked with Google to help annotate health content for health-related searches. These labels will appear at the top of Google search results for relevant search queries. Content from www.kaiserpermanente.org will be displayed along with other sites that have been reviewed and recommended by Permanente Medical Group physicians.
As a result, users will have a more effective way to refine their health-related searches. For example, a user searching for “pneumonia” will be shown a set of terms to refine the query, including disease information (symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, etc.), research, news, support groups, and information type (government sites, patient sites, medical professionals, alternative medicine). Upon refining the query, the user will be shown a set of links that have been provided by Kaiser Permanente and the other trusted contributors.
“It is an honor to work with Google to help make health information easier for people to find. Kaiser Permanente has a deep interest and recognized expertise in providing the best health information available,” stated Christine Paige, senior vice president, marketing and internet services. “This is a powerful example of how technology is changing the face of health care and medicine. By putting information in the hands of the consumer we promote the active engagement of individuals in their own health.”
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 8.6 million members in nine 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: www.kp.org/newscenter.
