Press Releases: National
February 25, 2008
Ten Hospitals Now Complete with KP HealthConnect™ Electronic Medical Records
More than 2.4 million members covered by inpatient electronic medical records
Oakland, Calif. — Kaiser Permanente today announced that 10 of its California hospitals have completed their inpatient deployments of Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect™ the organization's electronic health record.
Kaiser Permanente has long been a pioneer in implementing health information technology. KP HealthConnect™ is the world's largest civilian electronic health record and this week's milestone puts the organization well ahead of hospital-based organizations. A recent report from the California HealthCare Foundation indicated that less than 13 percent of California hospitals (including Kaiser Permanente's) had fully implemented an electronic health record.
Now, nearly a third of Kaiser Permanente's California hospitals are fully deployed ensuring that 2.4 million members are ensured full access to their comprehensive health information, regardless of how and when they need medical care – whether in the exam room, online, or in the emergency room.
"With the completion of 10 hospitals, more than 2.4 million Kaiser Permanente members are covered completely by an electronic medical record, which means that their records are instantly available at their hospitals and doctor's offices, so they can receive the care they need, when and where they need it." said Andrew Wiesenthal, MD, national physician lead for KP HealthConnect™ and associate executive director of The Permanente Federation. "This is a significant shift from the paper world, where health records are virtually never available prior to admission."
Kaiser Permanente's electronic health record is expected to improve quality, service and patient safety. With KP HealthConnect™ in place, nearly all Kaiser Permanente members are already routinely treated with an electronic chart in the outpatient setting, and all of Kaiser Permanente's 8.7 million members have access to My health manager – Kaiser Permanente's personal health record – where they can manage their health online. My health manager provides critical time-saving features, including online appointment scheduling and prescription refills. In addition, users have 24/7 online access to lab test results, eligibility and benefits information, and even their children's immunization records.
Kaiser Permanente's aggressive implementation schedule will continue in 2008, with 14 additional hospitals slated to roll out KP HealthConnect™'s inpatient capabilities by the end of the year.
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a not-for-profit, group practice program headquartered in Oakland, Calif. Kaiser Permanente serves more than 8.7 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Today 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 156,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 13,000 physicians representing all specialties. For more Kaiser Permanente news, visit the KP News Center at: http://xnet.kp.org/newscenter
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.