Press Releases: Northwest
October 12, 2011
Kaiser Permanente Among Best in U.S. on Many Quality Measures
PORTLAND, Ore. — Kaiser Permanente Northwest was the nation’s top quality performer on three measures, and scored in the top 10 on 10 others, in new data from the National Center for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
Kaiser Permanente Northwest ranked #1 in Counseling for Nutrition for Children, #1 in Counseling for Physical Activity in Children, and #1 for Annual Monitoring for Patients on Persistent Medications—Anticonvulsants in the latest HEDIS® (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set). More than 90 percent of America’s health plans use HEDIS to measure important components of care and service.
Kaiser Permanente Northwest has long been a leader in the effort to recognize and curb childhood obesity, being one of the first medical groups to chart pediatric body mass index.
“We are very proud to once again be recognized for our outstanding HEDIS scores,” said Ellie Godfrey, Quality and Service vice president for Kaiser Permanente Northwest. “These measurements show that prevention, screening, and chronic disease management are top priorities. When that happens, patients stay healthier and we keep costs down.”
Kaiser Permanente Northwest also received top 10 national rankings in Adult BMI Assessment, Cervical Cancer Screening, Chlamydia Screening in Women—Total, Appropriate Treatment for Children with URI, Use of Spirometry Testing in Assessment and Diagnosis of COPD, Comprehensive Diabetes Care—LDL Control <100, Comprehensive Diabetes Care—Medical Attention for Nephropathy, DMART in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Use of Imaging Studies for Low Back Pain, and Annual Monitoring for Patients on Persistent Medications—Digoxin.
The NCQA recently released its overall health plan quality ratings, which named Kaiser Permanente Northwest the best commercial health plan in Oregon.
About Kaiser Permanente Northwest
Kaiser Permanente Northwest is part of America’s leading integrated health care organization. Founded in 1945, the organization serves the health needs of more than 8.8 million people in nine states and the District of Columbia. More than 479,000 people in Oregon and Southwest Washington receive their health care from Kaiser Permanente. A nonprofit health plan, Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.
