Kaiser Permanente Wins Four eHealthcare Leadership Awards

OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente recently received one of the first eHealthcare Organizational Commitment awards for its use of the Internet and technology to support its  commitment to total health. The health care organization provides easy and convenient online tools and information to help members choose a health plan that meets their individual needs and then manage their health through My Health Manager on kp.org.

The eHealthcare Leadership Awards received more than 1,200 entries in 2011 and websites were rated on Internet excellence and how they compare to similar websites in their group classification. The awards are sponsored by Strategic Health Care Communications, an organization that supplies marketing, communications and business development information to health care organizations through its two publications, Strategic Health Care Marketing and eHealthcare Strategy & Trends.

The Organizational Commitment award was one of four top eHealthcare Leadership Awards Kaiser Permanente received. The awards distinguish health care websites that best support business objectives.

Kaiser Permanente also received these significant awards:

• Platinum award for Best Site Design – recognizes Kaiser Permanente's award-winning federal employees' enrollment website. Developed in collaboration with Propane Studio, the website is an example of how interactive design can guide users through the complicated process of choosing and enrolling in a health plan that is right for their family, health and budget needs.
• Gold award for Best Health Content – recognizes the Kaiser Permanente physician-approved health content featured on kp.org, including the Health Encyclopedia, Drug Encyclopedia and articles covering a broad range of health conditions and healthy lifestyle topics.
• Gold award for Best Intranet – recognizes Kaiser Permanente's internal social network, IdeaBook, and how it successfully increases workforce productivity and satisfaction and reduces administrative costs.

"Kaiser Permanente's Web presence is part of the integrated care experience. We focus on making it easier and more convenient for members to manage their health and the health of their families online," said Anna-Lisa Silvestre, vice president of online services. "This focus gives us a clear direction on how to best develop our websites and innovate in ways that will support members in reaching their health goals."

More than 3.7 million members currently use Kaiser Permanente's personal health record, My Health Manager on kp.org, to engage their care teams and become more actively involved in their health care. In 2010 alone, Kaiser Permanente members viewed more than 25.8 million test results and sent nearly 11 million emails to their physicians through My Health Manager.

"We know that enabling fast and easy communication between members and their physicians strengthens relationships. IdeaBook was meant to do something similar within the organization itself," said Miles Appel, executive director of Kaiser Permanente Internal Web Capabilities. "Through IdeaBook, Kaiser Permanente employees and physicians are able to collaborate, exchange ideas and knowledge, and simply get to know each other. It's created a great sense of community and enhanced collaboration."

With more than 28,000 Kaiser Permanente employees registered, IdeaBook users can create blogs, discussion groups, communities of interest, and share documents and videos. Since its launch in 2009, users have:

• created more than 3,000 groups
• posted more than 28,000 documents
• started more than 19,000 discussions
• created more than 7,000 blog posts

The most active IdeaBook groups focus on Kaiser Permanente mobile initiatives, technology innovations, brand news, neonatal intensive care units and employee wellness.

Kaiser Permanente is known for its leadership in the use of health information technology and its groundbreaking electronic health record, Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect®, which is the largest private EHR in the world. The eHealthcare Leadership Award is the latest among many acknowledgements of Kaiser Permanente's commitment to providing connected and coordinated health care.

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 8.9 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.

For information, contact:
Ravi Poorsina
510-421-0557
[email protected]

Amanda Wardell
510-625-3954
[email protected]

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente