Press Releases: National
July 15, 2009
Kaiser Permanente Wins National Award for Technology-Supported Patient Care and Efficiency
Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems Recognizes Outstanding Achievement in Medical Informatics for Clinical Programs
OAKLAND, Calif. — Kaiser Permanente today received the Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems Award in recognition of the organization’s excellence and outstanding achievement in applied medical informatics. The award is based on successful implementation of a technology system to improve patient care, support a more effective medical practice and to improve work flow and contain health costs. Winners were honored today at the 18th annual Physician Computer Connection Symposium, as well as in Modern Healthcare/Modern Physician magazines.
"Kaiser Permanente has long embraced innovation and information technology. While we believe that there is a great deal more potential where technology is concerned, it is an honor to be recognized for the work within our organization," said John Mattison, MD, assistant medical director and chief medical information officer for Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. "We have already discovered better treatments and care practices and implemented them across the program within minutes, compared with months or years in the paper world of the past."
The Kaiser Permanente clinical programs recognized include:
- Total joint replacement registry. Kaiser Permanente has the nation’s largest and fastest-growing population-based total joint replacement registry, with data on more than 75,000 joint replacement surgeries — making it possible to conduct, evaluate, and synthesize research into actionable clinical-care guidelines.
- Breast cancer screening. In 2008, Kaiser Permanente's Southern California region ranked No. 1 nationally in breast cancer screening rates (Source: Quality Compass 2008, National Committee for Quality Assurance). This achievement resulted from the availability of up-to-date clinical information, tied to an electronic scheduling system, which allows trained call center staff, as well as physicians, clinicians and employees to personally contact women who have neglected to schedule their mammography appointment and schedule an appointment on the spot.
- Collaborative cardiac care service. Using computer-supported care registries and team-based medical best practices, Kaiser Permanente Colorado significantly reduced the mortality rate for its patients. All-cause mortality associated with coronary artery disease (CAD — the leading cause of death in the United States) was reduced by 76 percent and cardiac mortality went down by 73 percent.
Kaiser Permanente takes medical informatics to a new level with Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect®, the world’s largest civilian electronic health record. KP HealthConnect enables all of Kaiser Permanente’s 14,000-plus physicians to electronically access the medical records of Kaiser Permanente’s 8.6 million members nationwide. Through continued innovation and system optimization, Kaiser Permanente continues to revolutionize medical care, saving lives and preventing expensive and unnecessary procedures, and saving patients’ and doctors’ time and money.
The AMDIS awards honor individuals and organizations that have successfully applied information systems and computer technology into the practice of medicine. The awards program is managed by the nonprofit organization representing more than 1,800 physician leaders who have a high level of interest in, and are responsible for, information technology in their organizations.
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.
