Press Releases: National
February 6, 2007
Kaiser Permanente Lauds Gov. Schwarzenegger's Health Reform Focus on Preventive Medicine, Healthier California
OAKLAND, Calif. – Kaiser Permanente today applauded Gov. Schwarzenegger's commitment to a healthier California, joining the governor at a capitol press conference focusing on the preventive medicine components of his health care reform proposal.
"From our decades of experience in integrating prevention and health promotion into clinical care, we know that well-designed, well-implemented prevention programs can make a real difference in the health of Californians as well as the health of companies," said David Sobel, MD, medical director of patient education and health promotion for Kaiser Permanente in Northern California and a primary care physician for 27 years.
"Prevention is a critical investment in a healthier California. We endorse the governor's comprehensive approach to health care reform. Combating the obesity trend is an important step toward containing health care costs and ensuring health care dollars are spent efficiently. We look forward to working with the governor and legislative leadership in moving toward universal health care with preventive medicine as a cornerstone."
Through systematic, integrated prevention programs and evidence-based care, Kaiser Permanente has reduced mortality rates from heart disease among its Northern California membership by more than 30 percent compared to the general population. Heart disease is no longer the leading cause of death for Kaiser Permanente Northern California members due to prevention and improved clinical care. The prevalence for cigarette smoking among Kaiser Permanente members has been reduced from 12.4 percent in 2002 to 9.2 percent in 2005, compared to a 15.2 percent prevalence rate among all Californians.
"If a comprehensive smoking cessation and prevention program could be extended throughout California we would have over a million fewer smokers, over a half a million fewer deaths, and savings of billions of dollars in lost productivity and excess medical expenses," said Dr. Sobel.
In Southern California, Kaiser Permanente also has demonstrated that a focused effort on preventive care can have measurable results. From 2004-2006, blood pressure control for its patients with hypertension improved by more than 26 percent. Southern California also has the highest breast screening rate among health plans in California, according to the 2006 report card of the California Office of the Patient Advocate.
In the area of obesity, a critical area addressed by the governor's proposal, Kaiser Permanente has taken a comprehensive approach by combining evidence-based clinical prevention strategies with community-based initiatives that make it easier for people to get healthy food and physical activity as part of everyday life. In California alone, Kaiser Permanente has committed $18.5 million over five years through its Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) initiative - a commitment which earned the not-for-profit organization a place on the Governor's Honor Roll following the 2005 Healthy California Summit. The HEAL initiative has received national recognition by the Institute of Medicine and the National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality for setting the industry standard for obesity prevention.
"The governor's prevention strategy, like our own work in this area, has a strong and appropriate emphasis on creating healthier workplaces and increasing access to healthy food and physical activity in our neighborhoods and schools," said Dr. Sobel. "These are critical elements of a serious obesity prevention strategy that can turn this epidemic around. Making it easier for people to make healthy choices where they live, work, and play will also address diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic health problems that cut lives short and run up health care costs for everyone."
Kaiser Permanente has recently instituted BMI (Body Mass Index) as a vital sign that is assessed in clinical visits and as a measure that can be tracked as part of the electronic medical record system. The Kaiser Permanente program is unique in its approach to obesity for these reasons:
- Medical Office Visit Interventions
- Weight Management Interventions: Healthy Living Programs and Services
- Environmental Changes
Medical Office Visit Interventions: Electing physician champions for pediatric obesity at every medical center, screening for BMI in every well-child visit, providing physician training to improve outcomes, and supporting innovation on a local level.
Weight Management Interventions: Developing multiple interventions and programs for patients with varying levels of intensity, and availability to meet patient needs.
Environmental Changes: Community Health Initiatives, Healthy Eating/Active Living Grants, training for community physicians, Farmers' Markets and Farm boxes, and our Educational Theatre Programs.
As one of the state's largest employers, Kaiser Permanente also is encouraging healthier nutrition and greater physical activity among its staff, physicians, and membership:
- There are now Kaiser Permanente farmers' markets at 36 Kaiser Permanente hospitals and medical office buildings across six states.
- Hospital and cafeteria food, and "Healthy Picks" vending machine reforms, are in progress at Kaiser Permanente medical facilities.
- Kaiser Permanente has teamed up with Weight Watchers, offering employees discounted memberships and on-site meetings at many of its facilities.
- Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians are encouraged to take part in the 10,000 StepsŪ program. The program is based on the notion that we should all get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. One way to reach this goal is to walk 10,000 steps a day-roughly five miles.
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a not-for-profit; group practice prepayment program headquartered in Oakland, Calif. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of more than 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 156,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 13,000 physicians representing all specialties.
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.
