Kaiser Permanente Northwest Leads Nation in Measures Taking Aim at Childhood Obesity

PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente Northwest leads the nation among all reporting commercial health plans with top marks in counseling children for physical activity and nutrition, according to the National Committee on Quality Assurance's Quality Compass for 2010.*

"Childhood obesity is the leading threat to our children's health," said Dr. Keith Bachman, director of the Weight Management Institute at Kaiser Permanente Northwest. "Clinicians play an important role in monitoring weight status. They also give advice about healthy eating and physical activities, and they help families make these changes long term."

Kaiser Permanente physicians track their young patients' weight status at each office visit. When their Body Mass Index is not appropriate for their age, the physicians have detailed conversations with the children and their parents. With America facing a childhood obesity crisis, Kaiser Permanente clinicians have long believed that raising awareness about the need for a healthy lifestyle is critical.

Through its Community Benefit efforts, Kaiser Permanente is very active in building healthy communities and educating the public about its Healthy Eating Active Living program. For example, Kaiser Permanente has been a key sponsor of Portland's hugely popular Sunday Parkways program, which encourages the public to walk or bike together.

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About NCQA

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2010, NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers.

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 and 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.

http://www.kaiserpermanente.org

* The source for data contained in this publication is Quality Compass® 2010 and is used with the permission of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Quality Compass 2010 includes certain CAHPS data. Any data display, analysis, interpretation, or conclusion based on these data is solely that of the authors, and NCQA specifically disclaims responsibility for any such display, analysis, interpretation, or conclusion. Quality Compass is a registered trademark of NCQA. CAHPS® is a registered trademark of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). HEDIS is a registered trademark of NCQA.

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente