Press Releases: National
June 18, 2007
Kaiser Permanente, Leader in Online Health Care, Participating in Medicare Study
CMS to Track Use of Health Plan's Popular Personal Health Record
OAKLAND, Calif. – Kaiser Permanente today announced it is partnering with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in a project that will help inform Medicare beneficiaries about the benefits of using online health tools to manage their health.
The pilot project, set to begin June 18, will promote the use of online personal health records (PHRs) to Medicare patients, as well as reporting on the use of such tools.
Kaiser Permanente is a leader in online personal health management services. The organization's online health management tools, available under "Your Health Record," include lab test results, prescription refills, eligibility/benefits, past office visit summaries, allergy and immunization information and access for parents to their children's records. Already, over one million Kaiser Permanente members have accessed "Your Health Record" online at its Web site, kp.org.
"Kaiser Permanente provides its members online access to their medical records as part of its focus on patient-centered care," said Andrew M. Wiesenthal, MD, SM, associate executive director of The Permanente Federation, the national organization of the Permanente Medical Groups. "Our personal health manager is more powerful than standalone PHRs because it is linked directly to KP HealthConnect™, our electronic health record. Specific personal health information and tools enable our members to proactively manage their health."
Also, Kaiser Permanente members can e-mail their doctor and schedule appointments online. Currently, the organization has more than 1.4 million members connected online, more than any other integrated health system in the world.
"Our online services help patients get better access to their health information, while making it more convenient for those who would rather not leave work or home to manage their health," says Kate Christensen, MD, medical director for kp.org. "In the KP system, a patient can view her cholesterol test online, talk with her doctor by e-mail about the result and treatment plan, and then join an online nutrition program. The goal is to help people become healthier, not just view a record."
Just over 880,000 Kaiser Permanente members are Medicare beneficiaries. They can now access their personal health information by activating their account on kp.org and accessing "Your Health Record".
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.
