••Summer 2006/Vol. 10, No. 2
Vohs and Lawrence Awards
Special Feature: Garfield Centennial

Permanente in the News

KP Tackles Childhood Obesity with a 24-Page NY Times Insert
In response to childhood obesity and the epidemic levels it has reached, Kaiser Permanente (KP), in partnership with the University of California, San Francisco and the University of California, Los Angeles, has produced a 24-page magazine insert on the topic. Download a pdf version of the insert at: http://insidekp.kp.org/insidekp/communicate/kplink/vol18/feature.htm. Filled with colorful illustrations--and formatted for easy clipping and posting on bulletin boards and refrigerators--the insert contains informative and useful content aimed at promoting better public understanding of childhood obesity. Emphasis is placed on useful strategies and tools for parents and nonclinical caregivers.

KP Physicians and Colorado's Educational Theatre Program Receive RJ Erickson Diversity Achievement Awards
Tat S Lam, MD, SCPMG, and Lemuel Arnold, MD, TSPMG, were honored at the 28th Annual National Diversity Conference, with RJ Erickson Awards in the Individual Category. The KP Colorado Educational Theatre Program also won the RJ Erickson Award in the Team Category. The RJ Erickson Achievement Award is presented to selected employees and physicians who distinguish themselves through their diversity advocacy, innovation, and service. Named in honor of Robert J Erickson, former general counsel for KP and lifelong advocate and champion of diversity in KP and the community, the awards are recognition of meritorious achievement in the field of cultural competence, workforce diversity, and community service. Over 900 KP employees and physicians attended the conference, which provides the opportunity for participants to come together, learn, listen, and share thoughts about the latest developments and trends in diversity management.

CMI Wins the Disease Management Association of America Award for Weight Management Initiative Work
KP's Care Management Institute (CMI) won the first Recognizing Excellence Award for the Best Application of Behavioral Change Principles to Disease Management from the Disease Management Association of America (DMAA).

KP Earns Top Rating in 2005 HMO Quality Report for California
KP's Southern California Region earned the top rating in the 2005 HMO Quality report from the California Office of the Patient Advocate (OPA). The Region earned 10 out of a possible 12 stars and was the only health plan to earn excellent scores in the categories of "Care for Getting Better" and "Member's Rating of their Health Plan."

KP's Northern California Region was the next highest-rated plan with nine stars.

Southern California Permanente Medical Group (SCPMG)

Southern California Wins 2006 Vohs Award for Efforts to Improve Quality of Care
Southern California and the Mid-Atlantic States will share the 2006 James A Vohs Award for Quality, recognizing the Regions' efforts to improve quality of care. This is only the second time that two regions have been selected to share the award.

The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG)

COO/Nurse Executive Honored with National Nursing Leadership Award
Linda Groah, RN, Chief Operating Officer and Nurse Executive, San Francisco Medical Center, was awarded the 2005 National Nursing Leadership Award by Nursing Spectrum and NurseWeek magazine, distinguishing her from a large field of professionals across the United States. Ms Groah previously won the 2005 Leadership Award for the state of California.

Physician Recognized for Contributions to Worker's Comp Reform
Doug A Benner, MD, Coordinator Occupational Health, Regional Occupational Health, Oakland Medical Center, was recently honored with the Rutherford T Johnstone Lectureship Award from the Western Occupational & Environmental Medical Association (WOEMA). Dr Benner received the award for his significant contributions to furthering the specialty of occupational and environmental medicine. As the 36th recipient of the award, he presented the Rutherford T Johnstone Lecture on the topic of Measuring Quality in Workers' Compensation Care at the organization's annual conference held in Monterey, California.

Northwest Permanente Medical Group (NWP)

Research Conducted by the Center for Health Research Leads to Changes in HEDIS
An article in the Portland Scribe detailed how research done at the Center for Health Research and other KP sites has led to a change in HEDIS, the national report card on key health indicators. Patients now will need to meet the criteria for asthma for two years rather than one. It was noted that many patients were misdiagnosed as having persistent asthma using HEDIS's one-year entry criteria.

Oregon CEOs Rank KP Third Most Admired Health Care Company
Oregon CEOs ranked KP the third most admired health care company, behind Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and OHSU's Doernbecher Children's Hospital. The survey was conducted by the Portland Business Journal.

The Southeast Permanente Medical Group (TSPMG)

KP Receives AID Atlanta Honors Award
As millions of people around the world recognized World AIDS Day on December 1, KP was applauded for its own efforts at the annual AID Atlanta Honors Event. KP was honored for its work in addressing AIDS and HIV and acting as a national model for research and treatment. Approximately 27,000 Georgians are living with HIV/AIDS. Georgia is the eighth most affected state in the nation.

Eleven Georgia Employees and Physicians Included in Who's Who in Black Atlanta Directory
Hundreds of Atlantans joined Ambassador Andrew Young and WSB-TV's Monica Kaufman Pearson for the unveiling reception for the 2005 Who's Who in Black Atlanta directory. William Boddie, MD, and Debra Carlton, MD, served on the host committee representing 40 of Atlanta's movers and shakers. Both received special plaques.

This year's directory featured 11 KP employees and physicians: William Boddie, MD; Pat Burrows; Debra Carlton, MD; Reggie Mason, MD; Adrienne Mims, MD, MPH; Willie Rainey, MD; Beverly Thomas; Earl Thurmond, MD; Alonzo White, MD; Carolyn J Williams, MD; and Evonne Yancey.

Colorado Permanente Medical Group (CPMG)

Physician Appointed to State Child Fatality Prevention Review Team
Governor Bill Owens recently appointed Margaret Ferguson, MD, pediatric hospitalist, to a new 17-member Colorado State Child Fatality Prevention Review Team. Dr Ferguson will represent physicians who specialize in traumatic injury of children. She will serve a three-year term on the commission, created by the passage of House Bill 1280, that gives official legal status to the state's efforts to study and track patterns of how children are dying in Colorado. The commission will develop policies that result in a greater rate of prevention.

Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group (MAPMG)

Maryland Rates KP Best in State
The Baltimore Sun reported that the ninth annual HMO report card of the Maryland Health Care Commission rated KP best in the state. The report was compiled using medical records and patient surveys throughout the year. The report ranks KP above average in 15 of 33 categories, earning a "star performer" rating on 10 of those, which indicates above state average status for 3 years in a row.

Program to Control High Blood Pressure Wins 2006 Vohs Award
The Mid-Atlantic States Region's Controlling High Blood Pressure was selected as a co-winner of the 2006 James A Vohs Award for Quality. The Committee agreed that the Mid-Atlantic programs had significant impact on important and large member populations, demonstrated significant improvement that will affect our members' lives, and have attracted national recognition for KP.

Ohio Permanente Medical Group (OPMG)

Physicians Offer Health Advice on Local TV Health Program
OPMG physicians Nicholas Dreher, MD, Assistant Director, Primary Care, Delilah Armstrong, MD, Lead Physician, CHMC, John Alfes, MD, Lead Physician, Lakewood Medical Facility, Mark Binstock, MD, Chief, Ob/Gyn, and Ronald Adams, MD, Chief, Internal Medicine, were featured on WKYC-Channel 3's Good Company program. The physicians provided health advice and prevention tips on such topics as: fad diets, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, nutrition information on the updated food pyramid, osteoporosis, and cardiac care and heart disease.

Barbara Caruso compiled this material from KFH and PMG newsletters and regional KP Web sites.
To submit news of physician or PMG awards and recognitions, contact Ms Caruso at barbara.caruso@kp.org

To Summer 2006 Table of Contents >>