Kaiser Permanente Unveils Web Site Offering Free Access to Physician-Approved Health Information for All.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers/High-Tech Writers OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 26, 2004 Non-Commercial Site Delivers Enhanced Services Enhanced service is service offered over commercial carrier transmission facilities used in interstate communications, that employs computer processing applications that act on the format, content, code, protocol, or similar aspects of the subscriber's transmitted information; from One Online Location, Effectively Turns Leading Health Care Organization Into Health Information Provider Continuing its tradition as health care pioneer and industry leader, Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente is an integrated managed care organization, based in Oakland, California, founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney R. Garfield. today unveiled a redesigned Web site that serves as a virtual public service, providing all consumers -- whether or not they are Kaiser Permanente members -- with access to trustworthy, up-to-date, physician-approved health care information. The new Web site also introduces convenient new services and online tools for various groups that need information and/or services from Kaiser Permanente, including members, prospective members, employers, brokers, the news media and job-seekers. The new Web site is accessible via www.kaiserpermanente.org or www.kp.org. Members can go directly to the member's area via www.members.kaiserpermanente.org. At the same time, Kaiser Permanente released a new nationwide consumer survey revealing that Americans regard the Internet as a response to the nation's health insurance crisis. The survey of 1,000 Americans found that overall, 62 percent said they would turn to the Internet for help in the event they were unemployed or uninsured. Kaiser Permanente launched the member portion of its new site last July, giving open access to the general public. The site received the highest accreditation award in the industry by URAC URAC Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (health care accreditation & certification) URAC University Recreation & Aquatic Centre Ltd (Australia) URAC Union Regional de Apoyo Campesino , a Washington, D.C. health care accrediting organization and a leader in the accreditation of health Web sites. URAC acknowledged that Kaiser Permanente's Web site incorporates rigorous standards that protect consumers' interests while providing quality information and services. "Consumers need a way to determine whether a Web site providing health information is credible," said Garry Carneal, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , URAC. "When they see the URAC seal they can be assured that the Web site has met our rigorous quality and consumer protection standards in the areas of privacy, security, health content, disclosure, and other issues that are critical for health related Web sites." Kaiserpermanente.org is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1996. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website, Title I of HIPAA protects health insurance coverage for workers and their families when (HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104-191) Also known as the "Kennedy-Kassebaum Act," this U.S. law protects employees' health insurance coverage when they change or lose their jobs (Title I) and provides standards for patient health, ) of 1996, and follows the Health on the Net Foundation Health On the Net Foundation (HON) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1995 and based in Switzerland. The stated mission of the foundation is to help both laypersons and medical practitioners find useful and reliable medical and health information online. Code of Conduct (HONcode), a widely endorsed set of voluntary ethical guidelines for developers of online health information. A Virtual Public Service: Meeting the Need for Timely, Trustworthy Information Searching for health information online is the third most popular Internet activity, just behind using email and researching products and services, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the July 2003 Pew Internet & American Life study. But fully half of those who turn to the Web for health advice "only sometimes," "hardly ever," or "never" verify the source and timeliness of the information they find. The new kaiserpermanente.org site goes beyond that of any other health care organization to address the critical need for trustworthy information. The site extends Kaiser Permanente's tradition of disease prevention and of making its services -- especially health education -- accessible to the community at large. The new site offers free, non-commercial access to more than 40,000 pages of physician-approved health-related information -- covering about 1,900 topics, 6,000 medical tests and procedures -- to anyone and everyone, with no password needed. The general public can access much of the site's valuable health information by visiting the Members' section. In addition, a team of Kaiser Permanente physicians, health educators, nurses, dietitians and other appropriate professionals write and review Featured Health Topics, addressing popular health subjects. The Featured Health Topics section uniquely distills the knowledge of the Permanente Medical Group. Site visitors can trust this information because the Kaiser Permanente content team has drawn upon the excellence and expertise of nationally recognized authorities -- medical professionals who see patients every day and know how to make their expertise accessible to all. "Kaiserpermanente.org is designed to provide the information that we all need to take charge of our health and the health of our families," said Kate Christensen MD, Medical Director, Kaiser Permanente Internet Services Group. "The better informed we are, the more we can do for ourselves to stay healthy. More and more people are seeking answers to their health questions on the Web. Our responsibility as a pioneering health care provider is to be where consumers are going for assistance -- to provide trusted, up-to-date medical information on which consumers can confidently base their health and lifestyle decisions. Our hope as well is that those who don't have health insurance will take advantage of this resource. "We've also enhanced our online services through this re-design, making online transactions more convenient and information easier to find, while giving our members and employers better access to their partners in care," Dr. Christensen said. Key features of the new site: -- Up-to-date, trustworthy, physician-approved information on topics like colds and flu, asthma, diabetes, weight management and more helps consumers take an active role in their own health. -- Interactive assessment tools, called "Health Calculators," help visitors determine if they're at a healthy weight, see if they're getting enough calcium, calculate due date if pregnant and more. -- A drug encyclopedia provides detailed information on more than 3,000 prescription and over-the-counter medications, including how to use medications, side effects Side effects Effects of a proposed project on other parts of the firm. and precautions. -- An enhanced "Members" section enables Kaiser Permanente members to request appointments, obtain prescription refills, communicate with medical professionals and manage aspects of their health plans -- all online, through a secure, private connection. -- A user-friendly and navigationally intuitive design makes information quick and easy to find. -- Special design meets the needs of people with vision problems. "Just as Kaiser Permanente blazed a trail for the HMO HMO health maintenance organization. HMO n. A corporation that is financed by insurance premiums and has member physicians and professional staff who provide curative and preventive medicine within certain financial, model, so kaiserpermanente.org is showing the way within the health care and insurance sectors, toward the total integration of professional health care services and trustworthy information," said Dr. Christensen. "We're offering a one-stop shop One-Stop Shop A company or a location that offers a multitude of services to a client or a customer. The idea is to provide convenient and efficient service and also to create the opportunity for the company to sell more products to clients and customers. , where it's all centrally located, easily accessible, private and secure." "The health system generally is woefully woe·ful also wo·ful adj. 1. Affected by or full of woe; mournful. 2. Causing or involving woe. 3. Deplorably bad or wretched: behind in the digital revolution," said Helen Darling Helen Marie Darling (born on August 29, 1978) is a Women's National Basketball Association player for the San Antonio Silver Stars, which selected her in the 2007 WNBA Dispersal Draft from the roster of the defunct Charlotte Sting. , president, Washington Business Group on Health. "Kaiser Permanente has set a new standard for which everyone should be grateful." Kaiser Permanente already has made its online presence felt within the industry, with the members' section of its new Web site winning the Fall 2003 World Wide Web Health Awards for Health Promotion and Disease and Injury Prevention (Bronze Award Several organizations issue awards with this name:
About Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health care integrated health care, n healthcare services combining the best of conventional and complementary health care. program. Founded in 1945, it is a not-for-profit, multi-specialty, group-practice prepayment program serving the health care needs of 8.4 million members in 9 states and the District of Columbia District of Columbia, federal district (2000 pop. 572,059, a 5.7% decrease in population since the 1990 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). with headquarters in Oakland, Calif. Kaiser Permanente has research centers in 8 regions around the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and publication of KP investigators' work has appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association is an international peer-reviewed general medical journal, published 48 times per year by the American Medical Association. JAMA is the most widely circulated medical journal in the world. , the New England Journal of Medicine The New England Journal of Medicine (New Engl J Med or NEJM) is an English-language peer-reviewed medical journal published by the Massachusetts Medical Society. It is one of the most popular and widely-read peer-reviewed general medical journals in the world. , Pediatrics, the American Journal of Preventive Medicine preventive medicine, branch of medicine dealing with the prevention of disease and the maintenance of good health practices. Until recently preventive medicine was largely the domain of the U.S. , and other peer-reviewed medical journals. |
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