Press Releases: National
January 4, 2008
Weather Conditions Serve as Reminder of the Need for Electronic Health Records
Portable Health Information Should be Part of Disaster Planning
Oakland, Calif. — With severe storms sweeping across California, Kaiser Permanente strongly encourages its members sign on to the new KP.org and become familiar with the online tools that can make regular care more convenient, and make a major difference in the event of a natural disaster.
Two years ago, most of the 1 million people displaced by Hurricane Katrina had no way to provide critical information to caregivers, and those with chronic conditions faced delays in treatment. Amidst widespread hazards such as the Southern California wildfires in October, electronic medical records proved vital to Kaiser Permanente. During the fires, medical offices in the San Diego area were opened and closed each day based on the fire line and wind orientation. These changes were on short notice and meant that members were often directed to a medical office they hadn't previously visited. With the help of Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect™, the members' care was significantly enhanced and made much safer by the ability of providers' to access to members' medical history, current prescriptions, lab results, etc.
"Looking back at the devastating fires, we are pleased with the positive difference KP HealthConnect™ made as we responded to the crisis situation," said Andrew M. Wiesenthal, MD, SM. "These unfortunate circumstances serve as powerful reminders of the need for electronic health records in the face of major disasters."
During a crisis, physicians whose normal work locations are closed can be redirected to alternative medical facilities, while others are able to work from home. KP HeathConnect™ allows them to do so with virtually no limitations through remote access. KP HealthConnect™ affords them the ability to return phone calls to members, refill prescriptions, review lab results, schedule future appointments (as needed) and direct members to open medical offices.
Members can take advantage of KP HealthConnect™ as well. Because Kaiser Permanente's personal health record – called My health manager – is linked directly to members' electronic medical records, they can manage their health online from anywhere at any time. In addition, users have 24/7 online access to lab test results, eligibility and benefits information, and even their children's immunization records. With secure e-mail messaging, members are able to communicate with their doctors at anytime, from anywhere. In the case of the Southern California wildfires, the number of e-mail messages sent to providers in October increased by 35 percent, from 34,500 to 46,000.
"Making it easy for members to manage their wellness isn't just the right thing to do, it's what consumers expect. When uncontrollable circumstances occur, such as flooding and dangerous weather conditions, it's easy to understand why," said Anna-Lisa Silvestre, vice president for online services. "The last thing we ever want is our members risking their safety to receive the care and service they need."
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health care delivery system. Founded in 1945, it is a group practice prepayment program headquartered in Oakland, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of more than 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. It encompasses the not-for-profit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Permanente Medical Groups. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 165,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 14,000 physicians representing all specialties. The system's Labor Management Partnership is the largest health care labor-management partnership in the United States. It governs how workers, managers, physicians and dentists work together to make Kaiser Permanente the best place to receive care, and the best place to work. For more Kaiser Permanente news, visit the KP News Center at: www.kp.org/newscenter.