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Kaiser Permanente Adds New Online Health Tools for Chronic Conditions to KP.Org Member Site

Posted on: Wednesday, 22 October 2008, 12:00 CDT

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- In its ongoing commitment to total health and management of chronic conditions, Kaiser Permanente announced today the introduction of three new online Healthy Lifestyle Programs on the topics of diabetes, depression and insomnia. The new offerings are available to all Kaiser Permanente members at http://www.kp.org/ and complement the site's current online health tools and programs on weight management, pain management, smoking cessation and more.

As of September 30, Kaiser Permanente members nationwide have utilized the Healthy Lifestyle Programs 358,355 times, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive:

-- 78 percent of members using the pain management program cite improvement within 30 days

-- 55 percent of members using the weight management program experienced weight loss after six months

-- 52 percent of members who participated in the smoking cessation program were still tobacco-free six months later

-- Early feedback shows that 94 percent of members using the new diabetes program report they are able to better manage their condition, 82 percent said they now communicate better with their doctor, and 77 percent improved their medication habits

"The new programs and existing tools on kp.org make it easy and convenient to connect to caregivers and support services our members need to manage their health," said Christine Paige, senior vice president, marketing and internet services, Kaiser Permanente. "Prevention is critical to total health, and the 2.4 million Kaiser Permanente members who take advantage of My Health Manager -- at http://www.kp.org/myhealthmanager -- now have additional tools at their fingertips to help manage chronic conditions and prevent disease."

The Healthy Lifestyle Programs are offered to members on kp.org through My Health Manager -- a personal health record and one-stop resource for free, time-saving services, including e-mailing their doctor, refilling prescriptions and checking lab results. Members also may schedule or cancel appointments online, as well as review recent office visits and recommended follow-up steps. This convenient access to a patient's own health history and information is made available by KP HealthConnect(TM) -- the world's largest civilian health care record.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, the program is headquartered in Oakland, Calif. Kaiser Permanente serves 8.7 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Today it encompasses Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the Permanente Medical Groups. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 164,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and 14,000 physicians representing all specialties. The organization's Labor Management Partnership is the largest such health care partnership in the United States. It governs how more than 130,000 workers, managers, physicians and dentists work together to make Kaiser Permanente the best place to receive care, and the best place to work. For more Kaiser Permanente news, visit the Kaiser Permanente News Center at: http://xnet.kp.org/newscenter

http://www.kaiserpermanente.org/

Kaiser Permanente

CONTACT: Ravi Poorsina of Kaiser Permanente, +1-510-421-0557,ravi.x.poorsina@kp.org

Web site: http://www.kaiserpermanente.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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