Janet Byron, Author at Kaiser Permanente Division of Research

Many patients with blood clots can go home from ER

May 16, 2022

A decision support tool implemented in Kaiser Permanente Northern California emergency departments in 2016 has continued to help physicians safely discharge patients with an acute pulmonary embolism to their homes without harmful effects, a new study shows.

David Baer, MD: A passion for cancer research

March 2, 2020

David Baer, MD, cofounded the KP Oncology Clinical Trials program in the 1980s. He has enrolled significant numbers of patients in these trials, and helped expand the regional effort into a national KP program. As a leading member of the Northern California Central Research Committee for most of his career, he provides valuable experience in the practicality of research within Kaiser Permanente.

Physician researchers seek insights to deliver better care

December 17, 2019

Partnership brings TPMG clinicians to the Division of Research to evaluate care and implement solutions; introducing the 2nd class of physician researchers, and their projects.

More metastatic prostate cancers found after change in screening guidelines

December 10, 2019

In the years after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended against PSA-based screening in all men, many fewer men were diagnosed with prostate cancer but more were found to have advanced cancers, according to a large Kaiser Permanente study published today in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Body fatness affects chemo dosages, contributing to increased risk of breast cancer death

December 5, 2019

Women with greater adiposity, or body fatness, were significantly less likely to receive all of the recommended chemotherapy dose to treat their breast cancer, and they were subsequently 30% more likely to die from the disease as a result, according to research published in JAMA Oncology.

KP Research Radio: Epidemic of deaths due to heart failure underway in U.S.

October 29, 2019

Deaths due to heart failure are increasing in the United States, particularly among the over-age-65 population, according to Kaiser Permanente research published today in JAMA Cardiology.

KP Research Radio: A promising treatment for ovarian cancer

October 7, 2019

5 Questions for…Dr. Michael A. Bookman, co-leader of a clinical trial that could provide an important new treatment option for women with advanced gynecological cancers.

Use of insulin among older adults with type 2 diabetes not aligned with national guidelines

September 23, 2019

Listen on KP RESEARCH RADIO:
“What we learned is that contrary to recommendations from leading societies, sicker patients were more likely to be on insulin, and over time were less likely to be discontinued from their insulin.”
– Dr. Richard Grant, senior author of study in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Teen bedtime and sleeping patterns can influence risk of obesity and poor cardiometabolic health

September 16, 2019

Adolescent sleep timing preferences and patterns should be considered risk factors for obesity and cardiometabolic health, according to a new study by researchers with the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and Massachusetts General Hospital.

At-home dialysis improves quality of life

September 9, 2019

The new KP Research Radio podcast looks at how the expansion of at-home dialysis in Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region is improving the quality of life of patients with end-stage kidney disease.

5 Questions for… Drew Ambrosy

August 14, 2019

“To this day, my research interests and clinical practice remain intimately linked, and I firmly believe patient care drives the scientific process, and vice versa.”

Kaiser Permanente research shows mastectomy patients recover safely at home

August 7, 2019

A study in Annals of Surgical Oncology finds that the rate of home recovery after mastectomy increased from 23% regionwide to 61% in the 6 months after the program started, with no significant changes in emergency-department visits, reoperations, or readmissions.

Body composition linked to cardiovascular risk in breast cancer survivors

August 1, 2019

Body composition, especially excess central adiposity or intra-abdominal fat, can result in an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in normal-weight breast cancer survivors, a large new Kaiser Permanente study shows.

Use of CT scans during pregnancy increased in U.S. and Canada over 2 decades

July 24, 2019

A large, multicenter study of advanced medical imaging in pregnancy, published in JAMA Network Open and co-led by Marilyn Kwan, PhD, found that CT scans were performed in 0.8% of pregnancies in the United States and 0.4% in Ontario in 2016; these rates increased nearly fourfold in the United States and doubled in Ontario over the 21 years.

New study finds both components of blood pressure predict heart attack, stroke risk

July 17, 2019

“This research brings a large amount of data to bear on a basic question, and it gives such a clear answer,” said lead author Alexander C. Flint, MD, PhD, Kaiser Permanente stroke specialist and adjunct researcher with the Division of Research. “Every way you slice the data, the systolic and diastolic pressures are both important.”

Clinical tool accurately predicts children’s appendicitis risk in Kaiser Permanente emergency rooms

June 19, 2019

Erring on the side of caution, emergency physicians tend to order CT scans to evaluate appendicitis in children, “but research shows that we weren’t necessarily catching more appendicitis,” Dr. Cotton said. “CT scans are costly and expose children to ionizing radiation that can increase the risk of cancer. At the same time, emergency physicians do not want to miss an important diagnosis like appendicitis.”

Pregnancy history of red-blood-cell donors not linked to higher mortality in transfusion recipients

June 11, 2019

Division of Research investigators participated in a multi-institution collaborative analysis, which supported the safety of current transfusion practice within Kaiser Permanente’s network of community hospitals.

Mother’s pregnancy weight linked to early puberty in daughters

May 23, 2019

A Kaiser Permanente study of more than 2,000 mothers and daughters found that the amount of weight mothers gained during pregnancy — whether too much or too little — was linked to the earlier onset of puberty in their daughters; the associations were even stronger when the mothers were overweight or obese at the beginning of the pregnancy.

New study data suggests revising heart disease management guidelines for colon cancer survivors

May 16, 2019

“This study demonstrates the importance at every BMI level of having more precise measures of muscle and fat to help identify those patients who are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease,” said co-author Bette J. Caan, DrPH.

5 questions for… Richard Grant

May 14, 2019

“As a first-year medical student, I enjoyed learning about the pathophysiology of disease. But as I gained more experience caring for patients suffering from these diseases, I realized I wanted to focus more on understanding the patient’s experience.”

Large study links genetic marker of aging to greater neighborhood deprivation

May 6, 2019

Genetics research suggests that longer telomeres — the “end caps” of DNA that keep strands of chromosomes from unraveling — mean more years of healthy life ahead.

Video visits convenient and high quality, Kaiser Permanente members say

April 30, 2019

Nine out of 10 Kaiser Permanente members who had a primary-care video visit were confident in the quality of care received, reported that the provider was familiar with their medical history, and felt that their health care needs were adequately addressed.

“I Owe My Life to the Test”

March 20, 2019

Coinciding with Colon Cancer Awareness Month (March), Kaiser Permanente Northern California received the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable’s prestigious “80% by 2018” National Achievement Award, in recognition of screening rates over 83 percent for colorectal cancer.

Temperament of Babies Born to Mothers with Diabetes During Pregnancy Linked to Childhood Obesity

March 11, 2019

Kaiser Permanente prospective study finds that easier-to-soothe babies were more likely to be obese by age 5, and more likely to have started drinking sugared beverages during the first 6 months of life.

Kaiser Permanente Teledermatology Finds More Skin Cancers with Fewer Dermatology Visits

February 11, 2019

Primary care physicians take high-resolution pictures of skin lesions with a dermatoscope and digital camera, then transmit them to dermatologists via the electronic health record.

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Kaiser Permanente Study Finds 10-Year Follow-up Interval After Negative Colonoscopies Is Associated with Reduced Risk of Colorectal Cancer and Mortality

December 17, 2018

Ten years after a negative colonoscopy, Kaiser Permanente members had 46 percent lower risk of being diagnosed with and were 88 percent less likely to die from colorectal cancer compared with those who did not undergo colorectal cancer screening.

Kaiser Permanente “Tele-triage” of Chest Pain Safely Reduces Emergency Room Visits

December 3, 2018

A new Kaiser Permanente study led by Dana Sax, MD, published today in the December issue of the journal Health Affairs, found that “tele-triage” of patients with chest pain over the phone can safely and effectively direct people to the right place for receiving care.

To Ward off Fatty Liver, Breast is Best for Mom

November 1, 2018

Kaiser Permanente researchers and colleagues find that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was less likely to occur in mothers who breastfed for 6 months or more.

Delivering the Next Generation of Diabetes Scientists

October 31, 2018

The Kaiser Permanente Division of Research has received a T32 grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) to train young scientists in translating research into practice for people with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.

5 Questions for… Steve Sidney

October 24, 2018

“If other health care systems and providers had adopted Kaiser Permanente’s approach and achieved the same rate of decline, I estimated in this latest National Forum report that 40,000 heart disease and stroke deaths in this age group would have been prevented in 2015 alone.”

Heart Health Improves After Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery

October 16, 2018

People who were severely obese and had diabetes had 40 percent fewer heart attacks and strokes — and 67 percent fewer deaths — within 5 years after bariatric weight-loss surgery.

A Better Way to Assess Ovarian Cancer Risk

October 10, 2018

New radiology guidelines developed by Kaiser Permanente gynocological oncologist and researcher Betty Suh-Burgman, MD, allow women at higher risk for ovarian cancer to be promptly referred for surgical evaluation while women at low risk can safely avoid surgery.

We Do Video Visits

October 10, 2018

Kaiser Permanente members who chose video visits were overwhelmingly satisfied with this new way to “see” their doctor, according to research correspondence published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

KP Emergency Services Physicians Honored for Research

October 2, 2018

KP CREST, a multi-center collaborative network based at the Division of Research that encourages, enables, and executes research in emergency medicine, are 2018 recipients of TPMG’s Morris F. Collen Research Award.

5 Questions for…Candyce Kroenke

October 1, 2018

“As long as I can remember, my family was interested in how diet and lifestyle influenced health and longevity. It was like living life according to an epidemiological textbook!”

Study Finds Wide Variations in Projected Heart Benefits of Anti-Blood-Clotting Medications for People with Atrial Fibrillation

September 24, 2018

The reported rates of ischemic stroke in four large studies vary substantially, creating uncertainty about the predicted benefits of anticoagulation medication, according to new findings in Annals of Internal Medicine by Kaiser Permanente researchers and colleagues.

Integrated Colorectal Cancer Screening Program Saves Lives

August 8, 2018

Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California are 52 percent less likely to die from colorectal cancer since the health care system launched a comprehensive, organized screening program, according to a new study in the specialty’s top journal, Gastroenterology.

5 Questions for… Marilyn Kwan

August 6, 2018

Marilyn Kwan’s research focuses on how wellness factors affect survivorship in breast and bladder cancer patients. Kwan is a certified CrossFit Level 1 trainer; she hopes to some day conduct lifestyle research involving CrossFit in cancer survivors.

Partners of Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Patients More Likely to Adopt Healthy Behaviors

July 9, 2018

Partners of people with newly diagnosed diabetes are more likely to improve their health behaviors than partners of people without the disease, according to a large new Kaiser Permanente study published today in Annals of Family Medicine.

Empowering Data to Improve Health

July 2, 2018

The Division of Research’s Douglas Corley will be responsible for developing and implementing a new research program in The Permanente Medical Group that will advance the creation of evidence-driven strategies to improve the delivery of health care.

Expensive Insulin Analogs Perform No Better Than NPH Insulin for Type 2 Diabetes

June 23, 2018

For patients with type 2 diabetes in usual practice, the use of the more expensive insulin analogs did not appear to result in better safety or better blood sugar control compared with NPH insulin.

Acute Kidney Injury in Hospitals Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Failure

May 17, 2018

Hospitalized patients who experience acute kidney injury face a 44 percent greater risk of heart failure during their first year after leaving the hospital, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study.

Greater Burden of Atrial Fibrillation Linked to Higher Stroke Risk

May 16, 2018

Continuous heart monitoring may help physicians identify patients at higher risk and tailor treatments.

Fighting Strokes at Lightspeed

May 15, 2018

Neurologists of the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Stroke FORCE team get clot-busting alteplase to patients twice as fast as the national average.

Division of Research’s Theodore Levin, MD, honored for colorectal cancer screening program

May 7, 2018

DOR’s Theodore (TR) Levin, MD, is one of four recipients of The Permanente Medical Group’s 2018 Sidney R. Garfield Exceptional Contribution Awards, for pioneering efforts to expand colorectal cancer screening.

Caring for Adults with Autism

April 27, 2018

April is Autism Awareness Month; a new body of Kaiser Permanente research highlights the needs of people with autism transitioning from pediatric to adult health care.

Rare Cancer Carefully Tracked and Treated

April 26, 2018

Technology allows a panel of urologists and oncologists to provide the most up-to-date treatment for every single person with testicular cancer at Kaiser Permanente Northern California.

Personalized Letter Improves Pregnancy Weight for Women with Gestational Diabetes

April 18, 2018

Women with gestational diabetes who received a tailored letter with personalized weight-gain recommendations were significantly more likely to meet national weight-gain guidelines, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in Diabetes Care.

Maternal weight and hyperglycemia linked to early puberty onset in girls

April 16, 2018

In a study of more than 15,000 girls and their mothers — all Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California — maternal overweight and hyperglycemia were linked to the earlier onset of puberty in girls 6 to 11 years old.

In Reducing Deaths from Heart Disease and Stroke, Kaiser Permanente Outpaces Nation

April 3, 2018

Death rates from heart disease and stroke in adults under age 65 are lower and dropping faster for Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California than in the rest of the United States, according to new research published today in the American Journal of Medicine.

Integrated Program Improves Heart and Stroke Risk Factors in Those With Diabetes

March 22, 2018

Over a 10-year period, control of three key cardiovascular risk factors improved faster for Kaiser Permanente diabetes patients in Northern California than in the rest of the United States, according to research published in the American Journal of Medicine.

A Heart-to-Heart for Researchers

March 20, 2018

The second Cardiovascular Research Symposium drew approximately 80 people including researchers, sub-specialty physicians, quality and operational staff, and others from across Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. It was convened at the Division of Research (DOR) in Oakland by Alan S. Go, MD, DOR’s associate director of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Conditions Research.

Member Health Survey Informs Care

March 7, 2018

Every three years since 1993, the Member Health Survey has been reaching out to members to find out what they are doing — and not doing — to stay healthy, helping Kaiser Permanente to better understand its membership and how to serve their health needs.

New Kaiser Permanente Study Improves Follow-up of Chest Pain in Emergency Department Patients

February 13, 2018

OAKLAND, Calif. — A new study, which reviewed more than 118,000 patients arriving at Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California emergency departments...

New Kaiser Permanente Study Reveals an Increase in Marijuana Use During Pregnancy

December 26, 2017

A new study from the Division of Research, using data from almost 300,000 pregnant women treated at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, found that maternal prenatal marijuana use increased from 4 to 7 percent from 2009 to 2016.

Patient portals a helping hand for families

November 22, 2017

A new study – designed with the direct assistance of Kaiser Permanente members who use kp.org – shows just how valuable the patient portal has become for helping family members to participate in each other’s care.

DOR’s Steve Sidney honored by National Forum for “exceptional contributions,” research on U.S. heart disease trends

November 1, 2017

The Division of Research’s Stephen Sidney, MD, MPH was honored by the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention for his “exceptional contributions” as well as his work on understanding national trends in cardiovascular disease.

Physician researchers build bridges to health care innovation

June 27, 2017

David Vinson, MD, has been conducting research on nights and weekends for much of his 17-year career as an emergency-room physician in The Permanente Medical Group. A new program sponsored by TPMG will allow him to dedicate a portion of his clinical work week to research, while collaborating with investigators at the Division of Research.

Meet the Division of Research’s inaugural class of physician researchers

June 27, 2017

ROBERT CHANG, MD Vascular Surgery, South San Francisco “I’m thrilled to be a part of TPMG’s focus on clinical research...

Translating Research Into Improved Women’s Health Care

June 14, 2017

Elizabeth “Betty” Suh-Burgmann, MD, says her latest research project was “born out of frustration with the state of affairs” for managing adnexal masses in women. Like gynecological oncologists across the nation, she saw many women at her Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek practice undergo surgeries to determine whether small masses in their ovaries were benign or cancerous.

Edmund (Ted) Van Brunt, former Kaiser Permanente research director and pioneer of electronic health records, dies at age 91

June 5, 2017

Edmund (Ted) Van Brunt, MD, former director of the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and a pioneer in the use of electronic health records in medical science, died at his home in Berkeley on May 19, 2017. He was 91 years old.

Maternal Pertussis Vaccination Reduces Risk for Newborns by More Than 90 Percent

April 2, 2017

Among infants of women who received the Tdap pertussis booster vaccine during pregnancy, the risk of contracting pertussis was reduced...

Sepsis Risk Prediction Model Decreases Use of Antibiotics in Newborns

February 20, 2017

Kaiser Permanente, the largest integrated health system in the nation, led the development of a neonatal sepsis risk calculator that...

Kaiser Permanente Study: Telephone Wellness Coaching Aids Significant Weight Loss

January 25, 2017

Kaiser Permanente members who voluntarily participated in individual wellness coaching by telephone for weight management lost an average of 10...

Kaiser Permanente Study Shows Women with More Social Connections Have Higher Breast Cancer Survival Rates

December 11, 2016

In a large Kaiser Permanente study of women with invasive breast cancer, socially integrated women — those with the most...

Heartfelt Thanks for Heart Study Participants

November 21, 2016

Kaiser Permanente Chairman and CEO Bernard J. Tyson thanks CARDIA study participants for 30 years of contributions to medical research....

Kaiser Permanente to Examine Role of Environmental Factors in Childhood Obesity and Developmental Disorders

November 15, 2016

Kaiser Permanente researchers have received a major new grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how exposures to...

Kaiser Permanente Adopts Recommended Preventive Procedure for Ovarian Cancer Without Adversely Affecting Surgical Outcomes

July 11, 2016

A surgical procedure recommended to reduce the future risk of ovarian cancer has been successfully implemented throughout Kaiser Permanente in...

New Autism Family Genetics Study Launches

April 1, 2015

A new Kaiser Permanente study will gather genetic material from 5,000 member families in order to undertake urgently needed research...

Jazz Diva of DOR finds her Ninth Muse

March 9, 2015

Opie Bellas is back, and she’s assembled an international treasure trove of songs that she interprets with the exquisite taste,...

Maintaining weight is a healthy focus for women with breast cancer

August 13, 2014

Women with breast cancer who maintained their weight were less likely to report changes in their physical abilities following diagnosis,...

Big Data Improves Care for Kaiser Permanente’s Smallest Members

June 9, 2014

Doctors in Kaiser Permanente’s neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) can use an innovative online calculator to determine whether preterm and...

Leading on Screening for Colorectal Cancer

April 18, 2014

The fecal immunochemical test, or FIT, that is mailed to member homes. About 137,000 new cases of cancer in the...

Happy 100th, Dr. Collen!

November 6, 2013

Morris Collen, MD, pioneer of computer-assisted health care, celebrates his centennial. Multimedia show: Dr. Morris Collen: A Remarkable Story In...

Electronic health records are linked to improved diabetes care for Kaiser Permanente patients

October 15, 2013

Video: KP scientists on electronic health records Kaiser Permanente’s electronic health records are world-renowned for their pivotal role in providing...

Study Targets Hypertension Disparity

July 22, 2013

This year, the KP Northern California Division of Research received an $11 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders...

Caring for Adults with Autism

May 1, 2013

A working group based in the KP NCAL Division of Research seeks innovative ways to address the health care needs...

DOR advances innovation in colorectal cancer screening

March 28, 2013

The Kaiser Permanente Division of Research has been an indisputable innovator in the science of screening for colorectal cancer; studies...

Landmark Heart Study Pioneers Science of Health Disparities

February 20, 2013

Study pioneers the science of health disparities—and launches quest to solve big problems in health care.

KP Member Health Survey: Vitamin D supplementation lags among people who may need it most

January 24, 2013

Many adult members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California who are at high risk for vitamin D insufficiency are not getting...

Vitamin D supplementation lags among people who may need it most

January 24, 2013

Many adult members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California who are at high risk for vitamin D insufficiency are not getting...

KP Surgeons Dramatically Reduce Cataract Infections

January 15, 2013

In a new video, Kaiser Permanente researchers explain how the Walnut Creek ophthalmology department virtually eliminated a rare, surgery-related infection....

A Meaningful Mission to Ghana

November 29, 2012

Dr. Maryam M. Asgari spent her summer vacation improving community health in a Ghana village. A paper plate hanging in...