News Archives
MUSE to Study Dangers of Long-term Opioid Use
December 13, 2016Read more...Kaiser Permanente Southern California will participate in a study of risks associated with opioid use to learn why some people are more susceptible than others to being harmed by such drugs.
Consortium to Study Opioid Use During Pregnancy
December 13, 2016Read more...
Tailored Post-Hospital Visits Lower Risk of Readmission for Medicare Advantage Patients
November 21, 2016Read more...PASADENA, Calif. —Medicare Advantage patients who had tailored post-hospital visits with primary care clinicians, known as POSH visits, were less likely to experience hospital readmission than those who did not have an outpatient visit, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine. Tailored POSH visits are scheduled for the patient while he
Kaiser Permanente research fuels smarter medicine
October 21, 2016Read more...The Department of Research & Evaluation’s 2015 Annual Report details, through stories and statistics, how the connections between research and clinical practice result in smarter medicine at Kaiser Permanente. “Our research studies span the full spectrum of care, from prevention to treatment and beyond,” wrote Senior Director of Research Steven J. Jacobsen, MD, PhD, in
Improving Care Through Research: Combating Antibiotic Overuse
September 22, 2016Read more...Thanks to their bacteria-fighting abilities, antibiotics have been important in combating serious diseases such as tuberculosis, as well as more common conditions such as ear infections. However, as useful and effective as antibiotics are, taking them when they are not necessary can be harmful. The problem often can be traced to patients who think antibiotics
Collaborative Care Model Improves Physical and Mental Health
September 13, 2016Read more...By Dani K. Dodge Medlin Coordinating patients’ diabetes and cardiovascular treatment with mental health care can reduce depression while improving patients’ glucose and blood pressure numbers. Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Kaiser Permanente Colorado were among the 18 medical groups that participated in a nationwide initiative called COMPASS (Care of Mental, Physical and Substance-use Syndromes).
Risk for Autism in Younger Children Increases Significantly If They Have Older Sibling with Disorder
August 8, 2016Read more...PASADENA, Calif. — A new Kaiser Permanente study found that the risk of younger siblings developing an autism spectrum disorder is 14 times higher if an older sibling has ASD. The study, which was published today in Journal of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, also found the risk level was consistent across gestational age at birth. Autism
Telestroke Program Closes Gaps in Treatment, Increases Access to Timely Stroke Remedy
July 29, 2016Read more...PASADENA, Calif. The use of a life-saving clot-dissolving treatment for patients with acute ischemic stroke increased by 73 percent following the implementation of a telestroke program designed to help community medical centers, according to a study published today in The Permanente Journal. Stroke is a major cause of death and a leading cause of serious
The Role of Exercise Programs for Post-Bariatric Surgery Patients
July 28, 2016Read more...Bariatric surgery has recently emerged as the most successful treatment for severe obesity. The different surgical procedures — gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band and sleeve gastrectomy — cause weight loss by restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold, decreasing absorption of nutrients or a combination of both. One of the referral criteria for
The Role of Exercise Programs for Post-Bariatric Surgery Patients
July 28, 2016Read more...Bariatric surgery has recently emerged as the most successful treatment for severe obesity. The different surgical procedures – gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band and sleeve gastrectomy – cause weight loss by restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold, decreasing absorption of nutrients or a combination of both. One of the referral criteria for
HPV Vaccine Completion and Communication
April 27, 2016Read more...Communication is the hallmark of any good relationship, and it’s no different when it comes to the doctor-patient relationship. In fact, a Kaiser Permanente study has found that differences in how health care clinicians approach patient communication, among other factors, may have an impact on whether patients are fully vaccinated for human papillomavirus (HPV).
Pre-Pregnancy Obesity Increases Risk of Having Overweight Children
April 25, 2016Read more...PASADENA, Calif. – A new Kaiser Permanente study, published in Pediatric Obesity, found that pre-pregnancy obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of the child becoming overweight at age 2. The study also found breastfeeding for at least six months helped reduce the likelihood of a child being overweight
Breast Cancer Patients Taking Newer Hormone Therapy Drugs Have No Increased Risk of Fatal Cardiovascular Events
April 21, 2016Read more...PASADENA, Calif. –In a new study from Kaiser Permanente, researchers found the use of aromatase inhibitors, hormone-therapy drugs used to treat patients with breast cancer, was not associated with an increased risk of fatal cardiovascular events, including heart attacks or stroke, compared with tamoxifen, another commonly prescribed anti-cancer drug that works on hormones and which
New Study Shows Mental Health Diagnoses and Treatment Vary Significantly by Race and Ethnicity
April 15, 2016Read more...PASADENA, Calif. – A large study from Kaiser Permanente, involving more than 7 million adults, found significant differences in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions based on the race and ethnicity of the patients. The new study, published in the journal Psychiatric Services, also found that regardless of race or ethnicity, patients were
No Increased Risk in Providing Flu Vaccine to Surgical Patients
March 15, 2016Read more...PASADENA, Calif. – Surgical patients who received the flu vaccine during their hospital stay did not have an increased risk of emergency department visits or subsequent hospitalizations in the week following discharge, compared with surgical patients who did not receive the vaccine. The new study from Kaiser Permanente, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine,
Hypertensive Disorders During Pregnancy and Risk After Delivery
February 1, 2016Read more...PASADENA, CA – Women who are diagnosed with hypertensive disorders while pregnant are more than twice as likely to develop high blood pressure in the first year after delivery as women who did not have any pregnancy-related hypertension, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the Journal of Hypertension. Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are