Latest Kaiser Permanente Stories

LEED Gold for Kaiser Permanente's Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro, Ore. Signals Shift OAKLAND, Calif., May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing commitment to create healthy communities, Kaiser Permanente today announced it will seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification for new construction of hospitals, large medical offices, and other major projects. "By adopting the LEED standard for all new major construction, we are...

PASADENA, Calif., May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The new 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) appears to be as safe as the previous version used prior to 2010, the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in Vaccine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved PCV13 for use beginning in 2010 after a series of trials. These trials found that PCV13, which protects against a broader range of pneumococcal types...

Organization recognized for promoting healthy workplaces and lifestyles OAKLAND, Calif., May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third consecutive year, Kaiser Permanente has been recognized by the National Business Group on Health as a Best Employer for Healthy Lifestyles for its ongoing commitment and dedication to promoting a healthy workplace and encouraging employees and their families to pursue and maintain healthy lifestyles. Kaiser Permanente has been awarded a Platinum...

OAKLAND, Calif., May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Whole-cell pertussis vaccines were more effective at protecting against pertussis than acellular pertussis vaccines during a large recent outbreak, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study published in Pediatrics. Whole-cell pertussis vaccines, also called DTwP, were available from the 1940s to 1990s, but were associated with safety concerns that ultimately led to the development of acellular pertussis vaccines, which are also called...

Members Share Stories of Healing and Healthy Living OAKLAND, Calif., May 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- When Wende King went in for a routine ultrasound at 23 weeks pregnant, she wasn't expecting to stay. But during the examination, her Kaiser Permanente physician told Wende that she would have to be monitored at the hospital until the babies were born. Wende and her husband were scared. "The statistics for a premature baby born at 23 weeks and a day were very grim," Wende said. "It...

OAKLAND, Calif., May 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., and their respective subsidiaries (KFH/HP) reported today a combined total operating revenue of $13.3 billion for the quarter ending March 31, 2013, compared to $12.7 billion in the same period in 2012. Operating income was $545 million in the first quarter of 2013, compared to $507 million in the same quarter last year. Net non-operating income was $220 million in the first...

Senior vice president recognized for exceptional and innovative technology leadership OAKLAND, Calif., May 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Kathy Scheirman, Kaiser Permanente's senior vice president and business information officer, corporate services, was named one of Computerworld magazine's 2013 Premier 100 IT Leaders. The list spotlights technology and business luminaries from a wide range of companies for their technology leadership and innovative approaches to business challenges....

Documentary films focus on addressing childhood obesity epidemic OAKLAND, Calif., May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In a continued effort to promote a national conversation about obesity and obesity prevention, Kaiser Permanente is sponsoring a three-part film series, The Weight of the Nation for Kids, focused on youth. The films, which premiere tonight on HBO, spotlight youth who are taking the initiative to change the food and physical activity environments in their communities as a way...

Kaiser Permanente findings dispute common belief that blacks have lower risk of developing MS PASADENA, Calif., May 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Multiple sclerosis is more common in black women than in white women, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in the journal Neurology. The findings run contrary to the widely accepted belief that blacks are less susceptible to MS, according to the researchers. Researchers examined the electronic health records of more than...

Membership organization for sustainable health care hands out more than 300 awards at annual CleanMed conference. Boston, MA (PRWEB) May 01, 2013 Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading membership association devoted to environmentally responsible health care, has announced its 2013 Environmental Excellence Award winners. These coveted Awards are given to institutions within the health care sector for outstanding programs to reduce the facility’s environmental footprint....