Health Policy Archives

Kaiser Permanente investigator will lead $4 million study to improve health of adults with multiple chronic conditions

August 13, 2024

Richard Grant will lead Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute-funded study that will compare methods of addressing social needs to fill care gaps and improve health equity.

Soda tax associated with drop in children’s weight

July 31, 2024

Young people living in 4 Northern California cities that began taxing sugar-sweetened beverages had lower body mass index (BMI) percentiles compared with young people living in cities without the tax.

Early-career researchers embrace unique opportunity to improve health care

December 11, 2023

The Division of Research is currently hosting one of its largest groups of postdoctoral research fellows.

Neighborhood green space tied to lower health care costs

March 18, 2022

New Kaiser Permanente research finds health care system costs were lower for people who live in greener areas.

Filling in evidence gaps about preventive care

January 27, 2022

A new report from a consensus committee headed by Kaiser Permanente Division of Research Director Tracy Lieu, MD, MPH, for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), makes recommendations to accelerate the research needed to fill evidence gaps for clinical preventive services.

A researcher’s career improving hospital care began with the youngest patients

December 9, 2021

Gabriel Escobar, MD, retires in December after 30 years as a research scientist with DOR and as regional director for hospital operations research for Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC).

5 Questions for . . . Andy Avins

May 4, 2021

Andy Avins, MD, MPH, has been studying what works, and what doesn’t, in medical care ever since a chance encounter in the hospital library with a journal that introduced him to the concept of evidence-based medicine.

Long-term exposure to air pollution increases risk of dying from heart disease and stroke

January 4, 2021

New study is first to quantify and compare the effects of long-term exposure to small particle pollution on risk for different types of cardiovascular disease.

Kaiser Permanente reduces hospitalizations even as sicker patients are admitted

December 4, 2019

Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California hospitals reduced hospitalizations and readmissions even as patients’ conditions increased in severity, a new analysis shows.

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.

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.

Pokémon Go Craze Saw More Benefits than Injuries for Kaiser Permanente Patients

May 2, 2018

A study of patients’ electronic medical records shows that, at the height of its popularity, the smartphone game resulted in injuries similar to those linked with other moderate-intensity outdoor activities.

Low Blood Sugar Emergencies Usually Go Unreported in Medical Records

April 16, 2018

A study of diabetes patients at Kaiser Permanente suggests that severe episodes of hypoglycemia occur far more often than is captured in electronic medical records, pointing to a nationwide need for improved tracking of these events.

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.

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.

Alcohol as a Vital Sign: We Ask Everyone

April 21, 2015

By Ann Wallace, Senior Communications Specialist, Kaiser Permanente Division of Research If you’ve paid a visit to your primary care...

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...

DOR’s Lisa Herrinton Named Top KP Innovator for Specialty Disease Registries

May 31, 2013

For many years, the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research (DOR) has specialized in creating disease registries for common medical conditions...

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...

Health surveillance tool: Study’s first results say stroke rate down, with uptick among younger adults

May 26, 2011

As chair of the Surveillance Group of the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, Steve Sidney, MD, is...

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