Kaiser Permanente Named on Fast Company 2010 World's Most Innovative Companies List

OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente has been honored in Fast Company's annual Most Innovative Companies issue as the fifth Most Innovative Health Care Company in the World for its pioneering electronic health record that is the world's largest civilian electronic health record, and for its health care innovation center that develops the future of health care.

Kaiser Permanente was recognized for its pilot medical data exchange program with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which enables clinicians from VA and Kaiser Permanente to obtain a more comprehensive view of a patient's health using electronic health record information, including information about health issues, medications, and allergies. http://xnet.kp.org/newscenter/pressreleases/nat/2010/010610vamedexchangepilot.html

The exchange program centers around Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect®, which gives the organization's 14,600 physicians immediate access to a patient's status and medical history, as well as decision support based on evidence-based practice guidelines and the latest medical research. Kaiser Permanente's members easily and conveniently can make and reschedule appointments, check lab results, and send e-mails to care providers via My Health Manager (www.kp.org/myhealthmanager), the online personal health record that connects directly with KP HealthConnect.

Fast Company also recognized Kaiser Permanente for its Sidney R. Garfield Health Care Innovation Center (www.kp.org/innovationcenter), the only setting of its kind that brings together technology, architecture, nurses, doctors and patients with human-centered design thinking and low-fidelity prototyping and design to brainstorm and test tools and programs for patient-centered care in a mock hospital, clinic, office or home environment.

Kaiser Permanente used the Garfield Center to develop the Digital Operating Room of the Future and an award-winning medication error reduction program. It's also used to test disruptive technologies such as telemedicine, surface computing, robots, facial recognition, remote monitoring, video game consoles and a handheld computer tablet similar to the Apple iPad that Kaiser Permanente nurses and physicians have piloted in hospitals the last two years.

"This recognition is emblematic of a culture and spirit at Kaiser Permanente that enables the transformation of health care," said Kaiser Permanente Chief Information Officer Philip Fasano, who was recently recognized by Computerworld as one of the top 100 IT Leaders for 2010. "Our electronic health record and Garfield Health Care Innovation Center are exciting examples of the innovation fostered throughout our organization and are the starting point in our journey to deliver real-time, personalized health care."

Other major brands honored on the Fast Company magazine's list include Cisco, Disney, and GE along with such rising newcomers as Spotify, Gilt Groupe, HTC, and the Indian Premier League.

To create this year's Most Innovative Companies issue, Fast Company's editorial team analyzed information on thousands of businesses across the globe. The result is a package unlike that of any other business media. It's not just about revenue growth and profit margins; it's about identifying creative models and progressive cultures – to define the many forms of innovation that exist across the business landscape.  

Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies issue (March 2010) is on newsstands now, and is online at www.fastcompany.com/MIC.  

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is an award-winning monthly magazine, Web site, and digital distribution platform that covers the business of innovation like no other media source. Editor Robert Safian was named AdWeek's Editor of the Year in 2009. FastCompany.com, under the auspices of executive editor Noah Robischon and publisher Christine Osekoski, has tripled traffic and revenue year over year. Fast Company is owned by Joe Mansueto, founder and owner of Morningstar, a leading provider of independent investment research.

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente