With its large, diverse member population and enormous stores of patient data, the Kaiser Permanente system provides an ideal laboratory for conducting health research. This relationship gives us several advantages as a research center:
- With access to our members’ comprehensive electronic medical records, we can conduct both historical and forward-looking studies. All aspects of each members’ health care are captured and associated with a unique health record number, while confidentiality and anonymity are assured.
- We have access to the expertise of 1,300 board-certified or board-eligible KP physicians from the full range of medical practice areas. They may lead their own studies, or they may serve as consultants and partners.
- We can work directly with health care providers and our patients to learn how health care interventions should be designed to meet their needs.
- If a program we are testing proves successful, the KP health plan can incorporate it into practice with minimal delay.
The Center for Health Research spans two regions of Kaiser Permanente: Northwest and Hawaii. Other KP research sites include: