Kaiser Permanente Opens Center for Total Health in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bringing together history, innovation and state-of-the-art technology, Kaiser Permanente today opened the Center for Total Health, a place for innovators, leaders, influencers, thinkers, and believers in wellness to talk about health.

An interactive learning destination for the public, policymakers and the health sector, the center demonstrates what Kaiser Permanente and others are doing to advance health and care delivery in the United States.

Sharing best practices, telling stories of innovation through voices of patients, community members and clinicians, and creating new venues to learn from others and collaborate, Kaiser Permanente is continuing to improve the health of its members and the communities it serves.

"A major part of Kaiser Permanente's commitment to total health is sharing best practices and facilitating discussions that will improve the health of our nation," said Kaiser Permanente President and Chief Operating Officer Bernard Tyson. "We are excited to open the Center for Total Health, where we will create opportunities to explore new ways to advance health through innovation and technology."

The center features interactive displays that inspire dialogue about improving health and wellness:

• A short documentary introduces visitors to Kaiser Permanente's rich history (link: kp.org/history) and its founders, Henry J. Kaiser and Sidney Garfield, MD.
• Interactive touch-screen walls allow visitors to explore the concept of "total health:" how people define total health, challenges to achieving it and solutions that are working.
• One of the world's largest multi-touch video walls -- an 80-foot-long mural -- teaches visitors about the health benefits of walking, how easy it can be to integrate walking 30 minutes, 5 days a week into their own lives, and helps them understand how to build walkable communities.
• Technology demo stations highlight some of the latest advances in telemedicine, mobile health apps, medication adherence, and delivering care through smartphone technology, tablet computers, and home electronics.

The Center for Total Health also is an educational event and conference center, with flexible spaces that feature a mock exam room to simulate a physician visit. Additionally, the facility is equipped with technology to facilitate virtual conferences.

"The idea for the Center for Total Health was born as a compelling way to share what Kaiser Permanente continues to learn about the kinds of health improvements we can make in this country," said Philip Fasano, chief information officer and executive vice president of Kaiser Permanente. "The center will be the first place that leaders and the general public can go to see the real-world convergence of health, health care technology, and innovation. It is a place where industry and business leaders can fully embrace a vision for total health, see it in action, and be able to engage other leaders in how to potentially shape health care over the years to come."

Located next to the new Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, the Center for Total Health is at 700 2nd St NE, Washington, D.C., and is accessible via Union Station as well as the 2nd Street Entrance of Station Place. The center opens to the public on April 11. Requests for events and tours must be made in advance by contacting the center directly at www.kp.org/centerfortotalhealth, via email at [email protected], or 202-346-3370.

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 8.7 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. 

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente