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Three Ways to Improve Your Diabetes

Nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes and many of them have poorly controlled blood sugar, which can lead to severe complications, including death. In this video, learn about a new study that reveals three factors associated with better blood sugar.

The Kaiser Permanente Research Bank is Changing the Future of Health Care

Kaiser Permanente is launching a new research bank which will include blood samples and medical information from 30,000 members in the Northwest and 500,000 members nationwide. In this video, a Kaiser Permanente pathologist explains how the samples will be used and why she is donating her own DNA.

Meet Stephanie Fitzpatrick

When Stephanie Fitzpatrick began counseling people with obesity to make lifestyle and behavior changes, she realized that she needed to make some of the same changes to improve her own health. Her personal journey has informed her research and given her empathy with the people she studies.

Meet Bobbi Jo Yarborough

Bobbi Jo Yarborough is passionate about improving health care for people with serious mental illnesses and substance use disorders. She wants providers and the public to know that patients can recover, and that recovery looks different for each person.

Meet an Investigator: Richard Mularski

As a practicing ICU physician, Richard Mularski knows the challenges of treating critically ill patients while also communicating with their families. Through his research, Mularski has developed palliative care tools to improve treatment and to help families cope with the death of their loved ones.

Meet an Investigator: Allison Naleway

Allison Naleway was interested in science from a young age, but it was a coincidental suggestion from a visiting professor that led her to choose a career in epidemiology. Her research portfolio includes studies of the flu vaccine, the HPV vaccine, and vaccination during pregnancy.

Meet an Investigator: Elizabeth Liles

Beth Liles knows the challenges and difficulties of being a primary care physician, but as a researcher, she also knows she can help to improve primary care for patients and for doctors. Her research focuses on developing better ways to screen patients for breast and colon cancers.

Meet an Investigator: Matthew Banegas

Farming and health research both require meticulous recordkeeping, a skill Matthew Banegas learned from his grandfather, who had a farm in rural New Mexico. Banegas now studies disparities in cancer care with the goal of better understanding and reducing those disparities.

Meet an Investigator: Gloria Coronado

When Gloria Coronado was growing up, her immigrant family had some misconceptions about cancer. Now she helps to dispel similar misconceptions and increase cancer screening among underserved populations.

Meet an Investigator: Charles Elder

Charles Elder is one of only a few doctors trained in both conventional and complementary medicine. In addition to studying mind/body techniques, acupressure, and Ayurveda, he also practices some of these techniques himself—including a daily meditation practice that he has maintained for nearly 30 years.

Meet an Investigator: Katrina Goddard

In graduate school, Katrina Goddard became fascinated with the role that human genetics plays in disease. Now a genetic epidemiologist, she focuses on public health genomics and the translation of genetic testing into clinical practice.

Meet an Investigator: Nangel Lindberg

For Nangel Lindberg, research is like detective work, allowing her to solve the mysteries behind cultural differences in health and to design interventions tailored to specific ethnic groups.

Meet an Investigator: Carmit McMullen

Carmit McMullen studies how background and culture influence personal health care decisions. It was a natural fit for this medical anthropologist who grew up in a multicultural home, moving between Israel and New York.

Meet an Investigator: Nancy Perrin

As a biostatistician and humanitarian, Nancy Perrin analyzes quantitative data to help improve the lives of rape victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Meet an Investigator: Kimberly Vesco

Half of U.S. women gain too much weight during pregnancy. Dr. Kim Vesco has a solution to this problem—and she’s testing it among thousands of Kaiser Permanente patients.

The Latina Initiative: How Kaiser Permanente is Reducing Disparities in Breast Cancer Screening

Kaiser Permanente is collaborating with Susan G. Komen Oregon and Southwest Washington, and eight community partners to increase breast cancer screening among Latina women in Oregon. As part of The Latina Initiative “Poder y Vida” (Power to Live) project, Kaiser provides free mammograms to eligible Latinas, and donates the treatment for the women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. The program started in 2013, and so far more than 1,000 women have received free mammograms and six are being treated for breast cancer.

Women's health

Most Patients with Chronic Pain Use Alternative Therapies, But Many Don’t Tell Their Doctors

One-hundred million Americans suffer from chronic pain every year, and many of them turn to alternative therapies for relief. In fact, a new study shows that more than half of patients with chronic pain enrolled in a managed care setting use chiropractic care or acupuncture. As Mary Sawyers reports, the study also finds that many of these patients don’t discuss this care with their primary care providers.

Vitamin D, Calcium Do Not Improve Menopause Symptoms

If you’re looking for something natural to decrease your menopausal symptoms, don’t rely on Vitamin D and calcium. According to a new study published in the journal Maturitas, the supplements do nothing to improve the symptoms associated with menopause. Researchers followed more than 34,000 women for nearly six years.

Erin LeBlanc

Why Pregnant Women Don't Need To Eat For Two

More than half of pregnant women in the United States gain more than the recommended amount of weight, and that extra weight can lead to large babies, difficult deliveries, birthing injuries, weight retention after pregnancy, and a higher risk of obesity for those babies later in life, according to recent research.

Pregnancy, Women's health

Healthy Moms

A new Kaiser Permanente study finds that obese women can limit their weight gain during pregnancy and reduce the risk for having large babies, which can make pregnancy and delivery more complicated. Results of the novel "Healthy Moms" study are published in the journal Obesity. As Mary Sawyers reports the study challenges current weight gain guidelines by suggesting that obese women maintain their weight during pregnancy.

CHR 50th Anniversary

Founded in 1964 with only a handful of employees, the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research has since grown to nearly 250 employees in two states. The Center started in a small basement office in Portland, Oregon and fifty years later is housed a few miles away in a large, stand-alone building on Kaiser Permanente’s Interstate medical campus. This brief video features highlights from a half-century of conducting health care research and looks ahead to the Center’s future.

A Better Way to Manage Chronic Pain

Meet Katie, who has struggled with pain for most of her life. After participating in the Pain Program for Active Coping & Training, a study funded by the National Institutes of Health Common Fund, Katie now has the support and skills to take a more active role in managing her pain.

chronic pain, ppact

Kids Say the Darndest Things: Now They're Talking About Colon Cancer

Most people can wait until they are 50 to take a colon cancer screening test, but you don't have to wait that long to start learning about the subject. These girls are still in elementary school and they're already talking about a new NIH Common Fund project that's boosting screening rates among uninsured and minority patients.

mailedfit, Gloria Coronado

Free Test Mailing Boosts Colon Cancer Screening

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the US, but it doesn't have to be. With early screening most cancers of the colon and rectum are preventable, yet one out of every three Americans isn't adequately screened for colon cancer. Among uninsured, low-income and ethnic minorities, screening rates are even lower.

mailedfit, Gloria Coronado

At-Home Colon Cancer Test

The FIT or (fecal immunochemical test) is easy to use, can be done at home, and according to an evidence review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine will detect most colorectal cancers. The new research conducted by Kaiser Permanente finds that, on average, FIT will detect four out of five cancers, and will also correctly identify about 94 percent of people who don't have cancer.

mailedfit, Elizabeth Liles

Depression Online Tool

A new online tool is helping people with depression improve their mood, change their thinking patterns and feel better over time. Developed by Greg Clarke, PhD, and colleagues at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, MoodHelper is based on proven cognitive behavioral therapy techniques. The program is not meant to replace in-person therapy, but to be used along with therapy and medication. MoodHelper has already shown promise in clinical trials and is being offered to all state employees in Oregon.

Helping Patients with Advanced Disease Breathe Easier: Expert Panel Issues Recommendations for ‘Dyspnea Crisis’

Report calls for improved care for patients who experience severe shortness of breath

Children More Likely to Get Preventive Care When Parents Use Online Health Tools

Young children whose parents used an integrated personal health record were more likely to attend six or more of the nationally recommended well-child care visits by 15 months of age, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in The Journal of Pediatrics. Using any Web-enabled device, PHRs allow patients to view parts of their medical record, including immunizations and after-visit instructions, manage appointments, refill prescriptions, check lab results, and securely communicate with their health care providers.

Pediatrics, health technology

Colon Cancer Screening

Just going to the doctor increases the odds that you will decide to be screened for colon cancer. And what the doctor says during that visit can boost your odds of screening even more. That's according to a new Kaiser Permanente study published online in the American Journal of Managed Care. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, with about 50,000 people dying each year from the disease.

Elizabeth Liles, Beth Liles,

Vitamin D

The amount of Vitamin D in over-the-counter supplements can vary widely and often does not match the amount listed on the label. Those are the findings of a new Kaiser Permanente study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Because the vitamin industry remains largely unregulated study authors say consumers can't necessarily trust they are getting what they pay for.

Erin LeBlanc

HPV Study

A new Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research study finds that young girls still have a lot to learn about Gardasil, the HPV vaccine that has been recommended since 2006 for adolescent girls and is now also recommended for boys. The study found most girls do know that the vaccine prevents cervical cancer, but many don’t know that it can also prevent genital warts and abnormal pap smears. Another interesting finding, younger girls are more likely than older girls and women to report side effects from the vaccine.

Allison Naleway, Vaccine Safety

Hip Fracture Study

Elderly Women Who Break a Hip at Increased Risk of Dying Within a Year

Frailty, Aging, Erin LeBlanc

Healthy Moms Study

Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research is conducting a study to help obese women maintain their weight during pregnancy. Prior studies have found that gaining too much weight during pregnancy can put mom and baby at greater risk for complications. This video tells the story of Jamie Martin, a participant who had great success in the study.

Kim Vesco, Obesity, Pregnancy

Flu Vaccine Study

The Centers for Disease Control and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone older than six months be vaccinated against the flu each year, but it is especially important for people in high risk groups, including healthcare workers. But, as we find out in this report most healthcare workers don't get the flu shot.

De Por Vida Study— Spanish Version

Un proyecto de un año de duración para ayudar a mujeres mexicano-americanas a bajar de peso y no recuperar el peso perdido. El estudio es innovador por estar diseñado específicamente para mujeres hispanoparlantes de origen mexicano. Las participantes asisten a reuniones semanales donde aprenden sobre nutrición, opciones de alimentos, y estrategias para el control de peso, incluyendo cómo llevar un registro diario del consumo personal de alimentos y del ejercicio que realizan. Este video presenta a una participante que ha alcanzado gran éxito en el programa.

Weight loss, nutrition, Mexican, Latina, women's health

De Por Vida Study

A one-year study to help Mexican-American women lose weight and keep it off. The study is unique because it is specifically designed for Spanish-speaking women of Mexican origin. Participants in the study attend group meetings where they learn about nutrition, food choices, and weight-control strategies, including keeping a food and exercise diary. This video profiles one study participant who has achieved great success in the program.

Weight loss, nutrition, Mexican, Latina, women's health

Life Study

Kaiser Permanente study finds that people who slept 6–8 hours a night and reported lower stress levels lost more weight.

Weight loss, women's health

Mammogram Reminder Study

Mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer, and reduce breast cancer deaths, but many women fail to get regular screenings. A new study finds that postcard, telephone messages and live phone call reminders can dramatically boost the number of women getting this important test.

Breast Cancer, Mammogram study

Food Diaries

People who kept daily diaries lost twice as much weight as those who kept no diaries. Vic Stevens, PhD co-authors a 3-year study to help participants lose weight and keep it off. Keys to success included food diaries, support groups and exercise.

food, Vic Stevens, weight loss

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