Get convenient support and resources
Loss of bladder control can be troublesome and a difficult topic to reach out and talk about, even with your health care team. The new Kaiser Permanente Virtual Urinary Incontinence Program makes it easy to get screened for and receive treatment for urinary incontinence, privately and in the convenience of your own home.
About this program
This free program is a virtual interactive self-treatment program for women ages 60 and older. It is a 12-week program, which guides you through the recommended “first line” behavioral or conservative (non-drug, non-surgical) methods for treating incontinence. We’ll send you regular text messages with links to screening questions, videos, and treatment tips and reminders. You can also view the material in your Personal Action Plan on kp.org.
The program is designed and led by the Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care team, a group of physicians and nurses who specialize in bladder care. It is offered in cooperation with the Department of Research & Evaluation. We take a team approach to provide better care for Kaiser Permanente members experiencing bladder incontinence.
To participate in the program, respond “yes” if you received a text about it. If you received an email, sign into your Personal Action Items on kp.org to register for the program. You can also sign up via the FAQs on your Personal Action Plan.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is urinary incontinence?Urinary incontinence is also known as bladder incontinence, bladder leakage, or urinary leakage. It is the involuntary or accidental leakage of urine. There are 2 common types: stress urinary incontinence and urgency urinary incontinence. Some women may have both types.
Nearly half of women have urinary incontinence. Incontinence becomes more common as we get older, but it is not an inevitable part of aging. It does not occur in all women, and many treatments are available to reduce or eliminate incontinence.
Who is the Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care Team?The Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care Team is a group of physicians and nurses specializing in bladder care. We are supported by Kaiser Permanente patient education specialists, computer experts, and researchers and benefit from additional input from a patient advisory board of Kaiser Permanente members and Kaiser Permanente health system leaders. While many types of providers may treat bladder problems, at Kaiser Permanente we often take a team approach, and this program is no different. The Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care Team is a relatively new group established to provide better care for members experiencing bladder incontinence.
We understand that you may not be familiar with us quite yet, but we work closely with physicians and nurses throughout Kaiser Permanente Southern California. You can often find your local Bladder Care Team on kp.org affiliated with your medical service area under Urogynecology or Urology.
Your Bladder Care Team developed this program with input from our internal team of experts as well as experts outside of Kaiser Permanente. If we’re successful in our efforts, we plan to share this program with other providers and health systems around the world.
Tell me more about the program.This is a conservative self-treatment program that was developed over a decade ago and is based on similar programs widely used throughout the world. The program includes screening questions similar to screenings for other health conditions. Because many Kaiser Permanente members feel that they are already asked too many questions prior to seeing their provider, incontinence screening questions are often not asked during a primary care visit. Therefore, many women with incontinence are often unaware that their condition can be treated. Even in instances when incontinence is identified during a patient visit, time constraints often limit discussions regarding treatment and education.
The Kaiser Permanente Pelvic Floor Disorders Group includes specialty trained providers and experts in the field, from every service area in Kaiser Permanente Southern California as well as national and international societies and experts. This group has transformed this treatment program to be virtual and interactive. It includes reminders with helpful tips and additional education content (like videos and brochures) from partnering professional societies. You can access this free program through your Online Personal Action Plan on kp.org and via text messaging.
We believe that these platforms will allow more members to be screened for urinary incontinence, so we’re offering this program at no charge. It’s been shown to improve bladder leakage in almost 50% of women.
Why is Kaiser Permanente asking me these personal questions by text or kp.org message?Many patients prefer to answer questions about sensitive conditions (like incontinence) via text message or through kp.org, rather than in person, because they feel uncomfortable discussing bladder symptoms directly with a doctor or nurse. Providers, in turn, know that many patients dislike discussing incontinence and often fail to ask about bladder symptoms during your routine doctor visits, which leaves many women suffering in silence. We have developed this new online program to help more women receive the care they need.
Why didn't family members who are also eligible get this message?While we hope that this program will be expanded to include as many people as possible, we elected to start with women in Southern California who are 60 years of age and older for whom bothersome incontinence is common. In addition, patients must opt-in to text messaging or be registered on kp.org to participate in the program. Since we cannot screen everyone at once, we have randomly divided the eligible population into six groups to be offered the program beginning at different time points over the next year.
If your friend or family member meets the requirements (a female Kaiser Permanente member in Southern California, age 60 or older, and opted-in for text messaging or registered on kp.org), she will get the same messages at some point during the year. If the program is successful, we plan to offer it to women younger than 60.
If you have friends and family who are Kaiser Permanente members and may benefit from this program, please encourage them to sign up for kp.org and opt-in for text messaging. Kaiser Permanente members without internet access, and members who have chosen not to sign up for kp.org or opt-in for text messaging, can seek care for incontinence the traditional way by asking their primary care provider for a referral to Urogynecology or Urology where they will receive similar services.
Should I enroll in the treatment program?Of course! A large group of experts in urinary incontinence has spent years developing this program, which uses treatment methods that have been found to improve bladder leakage in almost 50% of women. The program provides information and support very similar to what you would receive if you were referred to a Kaiser Permanente incontinence specialist, although the online program has more content, built-in reminders and other features to support you and keep you on track with your treatments. An additional bonus is that it is free of charge!
What if I have already seen a doctor for bladder leakage or have performed Kegel exercises in the past?That is okay. We still recommended that you complete our 12-week program, which guides you through the recommended “first line” behavioral or conservative (non-drug, non-surgical) methods for treating incontinence. Like exercise, you need to perform the treatment activities daily or several times per week to achieve success even if you are receiving other treatments for incontinence.
What happens if I don't get better after the program?While this and similar behavioral modification programs have shown to improve bladder leakage in up to 50% of those that complete the program, we know that many women may require additional treatment. These additional therapies are outlined in this program, especially the later videos. At the end of the program, we will ask you if you would like additional treatment for your bladder leakage. We’ll either give you a phone number to call to schedule an appointment with a local specialist in Urogynecology or Urology.
If a number is not included, your information will be forwarded to your local Bladder Care Team, and they will contact you within a few weeks to arrange additional treatment. We recommend you continue performing the behavioral therapy you learned during the program until you see them. Make sure to tell them you completed this program when you call or talk to your provider.
Can I just skip the program and see a specialist now?We don’t recommend this approach. As we stated earlier, conservative therapy is the first step in treatment of incontinence. If you have not completed this treatment prior to seeing your bladder specialist, they will ask you to complete the online program (or a similar program) and then have you return for a follow-up appointment in 12 weeks.
By completing the online program first, your symptoms may improve, and you may not even need to see us. If you still need to see us, completing the program in advance will save you an additional appointment.
Why am I receiving this information even if I do not have urinary incontinence?Medical professionals and organizations, including Medicare, recommend that all women be screened for urinary incontinence every year. In fact, you may receive a letter from Medicare asking if your provider has asked you about urinary incontinence and offered treatment. Because many women are too embarrassed to mention this issue to their provider and too many providers fail to ask about incontinence, most women with incontinence are not identified and we cannot rely on information in medical records to contact women with incontinence.
We are sending this information to all female Kaiser Permanente Southern California members ages 60 and older to identify those who are “suffering in silence.” Because urinary incontinence is so common and can limit women’s social activities and quality of life and lead to other problems, we want to contact and offer the effective treatment in this program to as many women as possible.
We apologize if we offend some women by asking about incontinence symptoms, but it is a necessary question to identify those who can benefit from our program. If you do not suffer from this issue, please just respond “no” to the questions and we will no longer contact you. By answering “no” rather than ignoring the messages, we are able to determine how many people received the messages and how many have incontinence.
We have found that even women without urinary incontinence (bladder leakage) may have a condition called overactive bladder. Overactive bladder results in increased urinary or bladder frequency or urgency without associated leakage. We have learned that women with overactive bladder without leakage can also get better with this virtual self-treatment program. If you do not have either of these issues, please just respond “no” to the questions and we will no longer contact you.
This is very important information that is used to refine current treatments and develop new programs for other conditions. Some people may have suffered from incontinence in the past, but received treatment and now they no longer suffer from the issue. This is the reason we also ask about prior treatment.
There is no contact number for questions. Who do I call for questions?If you complete this 12-week program and find that you require additional assistance, we will either provide you with a phone number for your local Bladder Care Team or if you request further treatment, your local Bladder Care Team will reach out to you if you. If you have any questions about the program, please contact us at UIProgram@kp.org. We will often reach out to discuss your concerns so we can improve our program.
If you have other medical concerns, please contact your primary health care provider, the Virtual Medical Center at 1-833-KP4CARE (1-833-574-2273), or request an e-visit through kp.org.
I cannot read the information on my phone because it is too small. Do I have another option to view it?We have found that many members and the population in general consume a vast amount of material on their smart phones. We understand that much of this program’s educational material is made to be viewed on a standard size printed page. We heard you and have now placed the program’s material (links including videos & brochures) on kp.org in your Online Personal Action Plan under the “Urinary Incontinence” button or section.
If you have opted-in for text messaging, we will continue to send reminders, questions about the program, and the educational material by text unless you “stop” text messaging. Please be aware that asking us to “stop” messages will result in you opting out of all texting programs within Kaiser Permanente. If you are interested in future phone-based reminders, you can opt-in to text messages in the future.
I received a message by text with links. Is it safe to click the links on my phone?That is a great question, and we understand your concerns. We are glad that you are skeptical and checked with us. Text messages from Kaiser Permanente use a short code number, which is 5 or 6 numbers. These numbers are registered by Kaiser Permanente and our contractors.
You will never receive a text message with a link from a private regular phone number. These texts are from us (Your Bladder Care Team) and are secure and safe to read. The same is true of the links to both video and brochures found in the texts. However, since you are already here on your own personalized action plan, feel free to view the material here. You will still receive your reminders and questions by texts on your phone.
If I receive a message by text, can I just respond?This is an automated program that is not actively monitored so it is best just to answer the questions that are asked. If you have questions about medications and other appointments, we recommend using kp.org including e-visit and other services.
I checked with my primary care provider, and he/she did not know about this program.The Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care Team has conducted an extensive outreach campaign with the Southern California primary care providers and posted information about the program in the physician newsletter, However, it is difficult for many providers to keep track of all the wonderful programs that Kaiser Permanente offers, and they may not be aware of it. You can let them know about it next time you talk with them.
Urinary incontinence is also known as bladder incontinence, bladder leakage, or urinary leakage. It is the involuntary or accidental leakage of urine. There are 2 common types: stress urinary incontinence and urgency urinary incontinence. Some women may have both types.
Nearly half of women have urinary incontinence. Incontinence becomes more common as we get older, but it is not an inevitable part of aging. It does not occur in all women, and many treatments are available to reduce or eliminate incontinence.
The Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care Team is a group of physicians and nurses specializing in bladder care. We are supported by Kaiser Permanente patient education specialists, computer experts, and researchers and benefit from additional input from a patient advisory board of Kaiser Permanente members and Kaiser Permanente health system leaders. While many types of providers may treat bladder problems, at Kaiser Permanente we often take a team approach, and this program is no different. The Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care Team is a relatively new group established to provide better care for members experiencing bladder incontinence.
We understand that you may not be familiar with us quite yet, but we work closely with physicians and nurses throughout Kaiser Permanente Southern California. You can often find your local Bladder Care Team on kp.org affiliated with your medical service area under Urogynecology or Urology.
Your Bladder Care Team developed this program with input from our internal team of experts as well as experts outside of Kaiser Permanente. If we’re successful in our efforts, we plan to share this program with other providers and health systems around the world.
Tell me more about the program.This is a conservative self-treatment program that was developed over a decade ago and is based on similar programs widely used throughout the world. The program includes screening questions similar to screenings for other health conditions. Because many Kaiser Permanente members feel that they are already asked too many questions prior to seeing their provider, incontinence screening questions are often not asked during a primary care visit. Therefore, many women with incontinence are often unaware that their condition can be treated. Even in instances when incontinence is identified during a patient visit, time constraints often limit discussions regarding treatment and education.
The Kaiser Permanente Pelvic Floor Disorders Group includes specialty trained providers and experts in the field, from every service area in Kaiser Permanente Southern California as well as national and international societies and experts. This group has transformed this treatment program to be virtual and interactive. It includes reminders with helpful tips and additional education content (like videos and brochures) from partnering professional societies. You can access this free program through your Online Personal Action Plan on kp.org and via text messaging.
We believe that these platforms will allow more members to be screened for urinary incontinence, so we’re offering this program at no charge. It’s been shown to improve bladder leakage in almost 50% of women.
Why is Kaiser Permanente asking me these personal questions by text or kp.org message?Many patients prefer to answer questions about sensitive conditions (like incontinence) via text message or through kp.org, rather than in person, because they feel uncomfortable discussing bladder symptoms directly with a doctor or nurse. Providers, in turn, know that many patients dislike discussing incontinence and often fail to ask about bladder symptoms during your routine doctor visits, which leaves many women suffering in silence. We have developed this new online program to help more women receive the care they need.
Why didn't family members who are also eligible get this message?While we hope that this program will be expanded to include as many people as possible, we elected to start with women in Southern California who are 60 years of age and older for whom bothersome incontinence is common. In addition, patients must opt-in to text messaging or be registered on kp.org to participate in the program. Since we cannot screen everyone at once, we have randomly divided the eligible population into six groups to be offered the program beginning at different time points over the next year.
If your friend or family member meets the requirements (a female Kaiser Permanente member in Southern California, age 60 or older, and opted-in for text messaging or registered on kp.org), she will get the same messages at some point during the year. If the program is successful, we plan to offer it to women younger than 60.
If you have friends and family who are Kaiser Permanente members and may benefit from this program, please encourage them to sign up for kp.org and opt-in for text messaging. Kaiser Permanente members without internet access, and members who have chosen not to sign up for kp.org or opt-in for text messaging, can seek care for incontinence the traditional way by asking their primary care provider for a referral to Urogynecology or Urology where they will receive similar services.
Should I enroll in the treatment program?Of course! A large group of experts in urinary incontinence has spent years developing this program, which uses treatment methods that have been found to improve bladder leakage in almost 50% of women. The program provides information and support very similar to what you would receive if you were referred to a Kaiser Permanente incontinence specialist, although the online program has more content, built-in reminders and other features to support you and keep you on track with your treatments. An additional bonus is that it is free of charge!
What if I have already seen a doctor for bladder leakage or have performed Kegel exercises in the past?That is okay. We still recommended that you complete our 12-week program, which guides you through the recommended “first line” behavioral or conservative (non-drug, non-surgical) methods for treating incontinence. Like exercise, you need to perform the treatment activities daily or several times per week to achieve success even if you are receiving other treatments for incontinence.
What happens if I don't get better after the program?While this and similar behavioral modification programs have shown to improve bladder leakage in up to 50% of those that complete the program, we know that many women may require additional treatment. These additional therapies are outlined in this program, especially the later videos. At the end of the program, we will ask you if you would like additional treatment for your bladder leakage. We’ll either give you a phone number to call to schedule an appointment with a local specialist in Urogynecology or Urology.
If a number is not included, your information will be forwarded to your local Bladder Care Team, and they will contact you within a few weeks to arrange additional treatment. We recommend you continue performing the behavioral therapy you learned during the program until you see them. Make sure to tell them you completed this program when you call or talk to your provider.
Can I just skip the program and see a specialist now?We don’t recommend this approach. As we stated earlier, conservative therapy is the first step in treatment of incontinence. If you have not completed this treatment prior to seeing your bladder specialist, they will ask you to complete the online program (or a similar program) and then have you return for a follow-up appointment in 12 weeks.
By completing the online program first, your symptoms may improve, and you may not even need to see us. If you still need to see us, completing the program in advance will save you an additional appointment.
Why am I receiving this information even if I do not have urinary incontinence?Medical professionals and organizations, including Medicare, recommend that all women be screened for urinary incontinence every year. In fact, you may receive a letter from Medicare asking if your provider has asked you about urinary incontinence and offered treatment. Because many women are too embarrassed to mention this issue to their provider and too many providers fail to ask about incontinence, most women with incontinence are not identified and we cannot rely on information in medical records to contact women with incontinence.
We are sending this information to all female Kaiser Permanente Southern California members ages 60 and older to identify those who are “suffering in silence.” Because urinary incontinence is so common and can limit women’s social activities and quality of life and lead to other problems, we want to contact and offer the effective treatment in this program to as many women as possible.
We apologize if we offend some women by asking about incontinence symptoms, but it is a necessary question to identify those who can benefit from our program. If you do not suffer from this issue, please just respond “no” to the questions and we will no longer contact you. By answering “no” rather than ignoring the messages, we are able to determine how many people received the messages and how many have incontinence.
We have found that even women without urinary incontinence (bladder leakage) may have a condition called overactive bladder. Overactive bladder results in increased urinary or bladder frequency or urgency without associated leakage. We have learned that women with overactive bladder without leakage can also get better with this virtual self-treatment program. If you do not have either of these issues, please just respond “no” to the questions and we will no longer contact you.
This is very important information that is used to refine current treatments and develop new programs for other conditions. Some people may have suffered from incontinence in the past, but received treatment and now they no longer suffer from the issue. This is the reason we also ask about prior treatment.
There is no contact number for questions. Who do I call for questions?If you complete this 12-week program and find that you require additional assistance, we will either provide you with a phone number for your local Bladder Care Team or if you request further treatment, your local Bladder Care Team will reach out to you if you. If you have any questions about the program, please contact us at UIProgram@kp.org. We will often reach out to discuss your concerns so we can improve our program.
If you have other medical concerns, please contact your primary health care provider, the Virtual Medical Center at 1-833-KP4CARE (1-833-574-2273), or request an e-visit through kp.org.
I cannot read the information on my phone because it is too small. Do I have another option to view it?We have found that many members and the population in general consume a vast amount of material on their smart phones. We understand that much of this program’s educational material is made to be viewed on a standard size printed page. We heard you and have now placed the program’s material (links including videos & brochures) on kp.org in your Online Personal Action Plan under the “Urinary Incontinence” button or section.
If you have opted-in for text messaging, we will continue to send reminders, questions about the program, and the educational material by text unless you “stop” text messaging. Please be aware that asking us to “stop” messages will result in you opting out of all texting programs within Kaiser Permanente. If you are interested in future phone-based reminders, you can opt-in to text messages in the future.
I received a message by text with links. Is it safe to click the links on my phone?That is a great question, and we understand your concerns. We are glad that you are skeptical and checked with us. Text messages from Kaiser Permanente use a short code number, which is 5 or 6 numbers. These numbers are registered by Kaiser Permanente and our contractors.
You will never receive a text message with a link from a private regular phone number. These texts are from us (Your Bladder Care Team) and are secure and safe to read. The same is true of the links to both video and brochures found in the texts. However, since you are already here on your own personalized action plan, feel free to view the material here. You will still receive your reminders and questions by texts on your phone.
If I receive a message by text, can I just respond?This is an automated program that is not actively monitored so it is best just to answer the questions that are asked. If you have questions about medications and other appointments, we recommend using kp.org including e-visit and other services.
I checked with my primary care provider, and he/she did not know about this program.The Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care Team has conducted an extensive outreach campaign with the Southern California primary care providers and posted information about the program in the physician newsletter, However, it is difficult for many providers to keep track of all the wonderful programs that Kaiser Permanente offers, and they may not be aware of it. You can let them know about it next time you talk with them.
This is a conservative self-treatment program that was developed over a decade ago and is based on similar programs widely used throughout the world. The program includes screening questions similar to screenings for other health conditions. Because many Kaiser Permanente members feel that they are already asked too many questions prior to seeing their provider, incontinence screening questions are often not asked during a primary care visit. Therefore, many women with incontinence are often unaware that their condition can be treated. Even in instances when incontinence is identified during a patient visit, time constraints often limit discussions regarding treatment and education.
The Kaiser Permanente Pelvic Floor Disorders Group includes specialty trained providers and experts in the field, from every service area in Kaiser Permanente Southern California as well as national and international societies and experts. This group has transformed this treatment program to be virtual and interactive. It includes reminders with helpful tips and additional education content (like videos and brochures) from partnering professional societies. You can access this free program through your Online Personal Action Plan on kp.org and via text messaging.
We believe that these platforms will allow more members to be screened for urinary incontinence, so we’re offering this program at no charge. It’s been shown to improve bladder leakage in almost 50% of women.
Many patients prefer to answer questions about sensitive conditions (like incontinence) via text message or through kp.org, rather than in person, because they feel uncomfortable discussing bladder symptoms directly with a doctor or nurse. Providers, in turn, know that many patients dislike discussing incontinence and often fail to ask about bladder symptoms during your routine doctor visits, which leaves many women suffering in silence. We have developed this new online program to help more women receive the care they need.
Why didn't family members who are also eligible get this message?While we hope that this program will be expanded to include as many people as possible, we elected to start with women in Southern California who are 60 years of age and older for whom bothersome incontinence is common. In addition, patients must opt-in to text messaging or be registered on kp.org to participate in the program. Since we cannot screen everyone at once, we have randomly divided the eligible population into six groups to be offered the program beginning at different time points over the next year.
If your friend or family member meets the requirements (a female Kaiser Permanente member in Southern California, age 60 or older, and opted-in for text messaging or registered on kp.org), she will get the same messages at some point during the year. If the program is successful, we plan to offer it to women younger than 60.
If you have friends and family who are Kaiser Permanente members and may benefit from this program, please encourage them to sign up for kp.org and opt-in for text messaging. Kaiser Permanente members without internet access, and members who have chosen not to sign up for kp.org or opt-in for text messaging, can seek care for incontinence the traditional way by asking their primary care provider for a referral to Urogynecology or Urology where they will receive similar services.
Should I enroll in the treatment program?Of course! A large group of experts in urinary incontinence has spent years developing this program, which uses treatment methods that have been found to improve bladder leakage in almost 50% of women. The program provides information and support very similar to what you would receive if you were referred to a Kaiser Permanente incontinence specialist, although the online program has more content, built-in reminders and other features to support you and keep you on track with your treatments. An additional bonus is that it is free of charge!
What if I have already seen a doctor for bladder leakage or have performed Kegel exercises in the past?That is okay. We still recommended that you complete our 12-week program, which guides you through the recommended “first line” behavioral or conservative (non-drug, non-surgical) methods for treating incontinence. Like exercise, you need to perform the treatment activities daily or several times per week to achieve success even if you are receiving other treatments for incontinence.
What happens if I don't get better after the program?While this and similar behavioral modification programs have shown to improve bladder leakage in up to 50% of those that complete the program, we know that many women may require additional treatment. These additional therapies are outlined in this program, especially the later videos. At the end of the program, we will ask you if you would like additional treatment for your bladder leakage. We’ll either give you a phone number to call to schedule an appointment with a local specialist in Urogynecology or Urology.
If a number is not included, your information will be forwarded to your local Bladder Care Team, and they will contact you within a few weeks to arrange additional treatment. We recommend you continue performing the behavioral therapy you learned during the program until you see them. Make sure to tell them you completed this program when you call or talk to your provider.
Can I just skip the program and see a specialist now?We don’t recommend this approach. As we stated earlier, conservative therapy is the first step in treatment of incontinence. If you have not completed this treatment prior to seeing your bladder specialist, they will ask you to complete the online program (or a similar program) and then have you return for a follow-up appointment in 12 weeks.
By completing the online program first, your symptoms may improve, and you may not even need to see us. If you still need to see us, completing the program in advance will save you an additional appointment.
Why am I receiving this information even if I do not have urinary incontinence?Medical professionals and organizations, including Medicare, recommend that all women be screened for urinary incontinence every year. In fact, you may receive a letter from Medicare asking if your provider has asked you about urinary incontinence and offered treatment. Because many women are too embarrassed to mention this issue to their provider and too many providers fail to ask about incontinence, most women with incontinence are not identified and we cannot rely on information in medical records to contact women with incontinence.
We are sending this information to all female Kaiser Permanente Southern California members ages 60 and older to identify those who are “suffering in silence.” Because urinary incontinence is so common and can limit women’s social activities and quality of life and lead to other problems, we want to contact and offer the effective treatment in this program to as many women as possible.
We apologize if we offend some women by asking about incontinence symptoms, but it is a necessary question to identify those who can benefit from our program. If you do not suffer from this issue, please just respond “no” to the questions and we will no longer contact you. By answering “no” rather than ignoring the messages, we are able to determine how many people received the messages and how many have incontinence.
We have found that even women without urinary incontinence (bladder leakage) may have a condition called overactive bladder. Overactive bladder results in increased urinary or bladder frequency or urgency without associated leakage. We have learned that women with overactive bladder without leakage can also get better with this virtual self-treatment program. If you do not have either of these issues, please just respond “no” to the questions and we will no longer contact you.
This is very important information that is used to refine current treatments and develop new programs for other conditions. Some people may have suffered from incontinence in the past, but received treatment and now they no longer suffer from the issue. This is the reason we also ask about prior treatment.
There is no contact number for questions. Who do I call for questions?If you complete this 12-week program and find that you require additional assistance, we will either provide you with a phone number for your local Bladder Care Team or if you request further treatment, your local Bladder Care Team will reach out to you if you. If you have any questions about the program, please contact us at UIProgram@kp.org. We will often reach out to discuss your concerns so we can improve our program.
If you have other medical concerns, please contact your primary health care provider, the Virtual Medical Center at 1-833-KP4CARE (1-833-574-2273), or request an e-visit through kp.org.
I cannot read the information on my phone because it is too small. Do I have another option to view it?We have found that many members and the population in general consume a vast amount of material on their smart phones. We understand that much of this program’s educational material is made to be viewed on a standard size printed page. We heard you and have now placed the program’s material (links including videos & brochures) on kp.org in your Online Personal Action Plan under the “Urinary Incontinence” button or section.
If you have opted-in for text messaging, we will continue to send reminders, questions about the program, and the educational material by text unless you “stop” text messaging. Please be aware that asking us to “stop” messages will result in you opting out of all texting programs within Kaiser Permanente. If you are interested in future phone-based reminders, you can opt-in to text messages in the future.
I received a message by text with links. Is it safe to click the links on my phone?That is a great question, and we understand your concerns. We are glad that you are skeptical and checked with us. Text messages from Kaiser Permanente use a short code number, which is 5 or 6 numbers. These numbers are registered by Kaiser Permanente and our contractors.
You will never receive a text message with a link from a private regular phone number. These texts are from us (Your Bladder Care Team) and are secure and safe to read. The same is true of the links to both video and brochures found in the texts. However, since you are already here on your own personalized action plan, feel free to view the material here. You will still receive your reminders and questions by texts on your phone.
If I receive a message by text, can I just respond?This is an automated program that is not actively monitored so it is best just to answer the questions that are asked. If you have questions about medications and other appointments, we recommend using kp.org including e-visit and other services.
I checked with my primary care provider, and he/she did not know about this program.The Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care Team has conducted an extensive outreach campaign with the Southern California primary care providers and posted information about the program in the physician newsletter, However, it is difficult for many providers to keep track of all the wonderful programs that Kaiser Permanente offers, and they may not be aware of it. You can let them know about it next time you talk with them.
While we hope that this program will be expanded to include as many people as possible, we elected to start with women in Southern California who are 60 years of age and older for whom bothersome incontinence is common. In addition, patients must opt-in to text messaging or be registered on kp.org to participate in the program. Since we cannot screen everyone at once, we have randomly divided the eligible population into six groups to be offered the program beginning at different time points over the next year.
If your friend or family member meets the requirements (a female Kaiser Permanente member in Southern California, age 60 or older, and opted-in for text messaging or registered on kp.org), she will get the same messages at some point during the year. If the program is successful, we plan to offer it to women younger than 60.
If you have friends and family who are Kaiser Permanente members and may benefit from this program, please encourage them to sign up for kp.org and opt-in for text messaging. Kaiser Permanente members without internet access, and members who have chosen not to sign up for kp.org or opt-in for text messaging, can seek care for incontinence the traditional way by asking their primary care provider for a referral to Urogynecology or Urology where they will receive similar services.
Of course! A large group of experts in urinary incontinence has spent years developing this program, which uses treatment methods that have been found to improve bladder leakage in almost 50% of women. The program provides information and support very similar to what you would receive if you were referred to a Kaiser Permanente incontinence specialist, although the online program has more content, built-in reminders and other features to support you and keep you on track with your treatments. An additional bonus is that it is free of charge!
What if I have already seen a doctor for bladder leakage or have performed Kegel exercises in the past?That is okay. We still recommended that you complete our 12-week program, which guides you through the recommended “first line” behavioral or conservative (non-drug, non-surgical) methods for treating incontinence. Like exercise, you need to perform the treatment activities daily or several times per week to achieve success even if you are receiving other treatments for incontinence.
What happens if I don't get better after the program?While this and similar behavioral modification programs have shown to improve bladder leakage in up to 50% of those that complete the program, we know that many women may require additional treatment. These additional therapies are outlined in this program, especially the later videos. At the end of the program, we will ask you if you would like additional treatment for your bladder leakage. We’ll either give you a phone number to call to schedule an appointment with a local specialist in Urogynecology or Urology.
If a number is not included, your information will be forwarded to your local Bladder Care Team, and they will contact you within a few weeks to arrange additional treatment. We recommend you continue performing the behavioral therapy you learned during the program until you see them. Make sure to tell them you completed this program when you call or talk to your provider.
Can I just skip the program and see a specialist now?We don’t recommend this approach. As we stated earlier, conservative therapy is the first step in treatment of incontinence. If you have not completed this treatment prior to seeing your bladder specialist, they will ask you to complete the online program (or a similar program) and then have you return for a follow-up appointment in 12 weeks.
By completing the online program first, your symptoms may improve, and you may not even need to see us. If you still need to see us, completing the program in advance will save you an additional appointment.
Why am I receiving this information even if I do not have urinary incontinence?Medical professionals and organizations, including Medicare, recommend that all women be screened for urinary incontinence every year. In fact, you may receive a letter from Medicare asking if your provider has asked you about urinary incontinence and offered treatment. Because many women are too embarrassed to mention this issue to their provider and too many providers fail to ask about incontinence, most women with incontinence are not identified and we cannot rely on information in medical records to contact women with incontinence.
We are sending this information to all female Kaiser Permanente Southern California members ages 60 and older to identify those who are “suffering in silence.” Because urinary incontinence is so common and can limit women’s social activities and quality of life and lead to other problems, we want to contact and offer the effective treatment in this program to as many women as possible.
We apologize if we offend some women by asking about incontinence symptoms, but it is a necessary question to identify those who can benefit from our program. If you do not suffer from this issue, please just respond “no” to the questions and we will no longer contact you. By answering “no” rather than ignoring the messages, we are able to determine how many people received the messages and how many have incontinence.
We have found that even women without urinary incontinence (bladder leakage) may have a condition called overactive bladder. Overactive bladder results in increased urinary or bladder frequency or urgency without associated leakage. We have learned that women with overactive bladder without leakage can also get better with this virtual self-treatment program. If you do not have either of these issues, please just respond “no” to the questions and we will no longer contact you.
This is very important information that is used to refine current treatments and develop new programs for other conditions. Some people may have suffered from incontinence in the past, but received treatment and now they no longer suffer from the issue. This is the reason we also ask about prior treatment.
There is no contact number for questions. Who do I call for questions?If you complete this 12-week program and find that you require additional assistance, we will either provide you with a phone number for your local Bladder Care Team or if you request further treatment, your local Bladder Care Team will reach out to you if you. If you have any questions about the program, please contact us at UIProgram@kp.org. We will often reach out to discuss your concerns so we can improve our program.
If you have other medical concerns, please contact your primary health care provider, the Virtual Medical Center at 1-833-KP4CARE (1-833-574-2273), or request an e-visit through kp.org.
I cannot read the information on my phone because it is too small. Do I have another option to view it?We have found that many members and the population in general consume a vast amount of material on their smart phones. We understand that much of this program’s educational material is made to be viewed on a standard size printed page. We heard you and have now placed the program’s material (links including videos & brochures) on kp.org in your Online Personal Action Plan under the “Urinary Incontinence” button or section.
If you have opted-in for text messaging, we will continue to send reminders, questions about the program, and the educational material by text unless you “stop” text messaging. Please be aware that asking us to “stop” messages will result in you opting out of all texting programs within Kaiser Permanente. If you are interested in future phone-based reminders, you can opt-in to text messages in the future.
I received a message by text with links. Is it safe to click the links on my phone?That is a great question, and we understand your concerns. We are glad that you are skeptical and checked with us. Text messages from Kaiser Permanente use a short code number, which is 5 or 6 numbers. These numbers are registered by Kaiser Permanente and our contractors.
You will never receive a text message with a link from a private regular phone number. These texts are from us (Your Bladder Care Team) and are secure and safe to read. The same is true of the links to both video and brochures found in the texts. However, since you are already here on your own personalized action plan, feel free to view the material here. You will still receive your reminders and questions by texts on your phone.
If I receive a message by text, can I just respond?This is an automated program that is not actively monitored so it is best just to answer the questions that are asked. If you have questions about medications and other appointments, we recommend using kp.org including e-visit and other services.
I checked with my primary care provider, and he/she did not know about this program.The Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care Team has conducted an extensive outreach campaign with the Southern California primary care providers and posted information about the program in the physician newsletter, However, it is difficult for many providers to keep track of all the wonderful programs that Kaiser Permanente offers, and they may not be aware of it. You can let them know about it next time you talk with them.
That is okay. We still recommended that you complete our 12-week program, which guides you through the recommended “first line” behavioral or conservative (non-drug, non-surgical) methods for treating incontinence. Like exercise, you need to perform the treatment activities daily or several times per week to achieve success even if you are receiving other treatments for incontinence.
While this and similar behavioral modification programs have shown to improve bladder leakage in up to 50% of those that complete the program, we know that many women may require additional treatment. These additional therapies are outlined in this program, especially the later videos. At the end of the program, we will ask you if you would like additional treatment for your bladder leakage. We’ll either give you a phone number to call to schedule an appointment with a local specialist in Urogynecology or Urology.
If a number is not included, your information will be forwarded to your local Bladder Care Team, and they will contact you within a few weeks to arrange additional treatment. We recommend you continue performing the behavioral therapy you learned during the program until you see them. Make sure to tell them you completed this program when you call or talk to your provider.
Can I just skip the program and see a specialist now?We don’t recommend this approach. As we stated earlier, conservative therapy is the first step in treatment of incontinence. If you have not completed this treatment prior to seeing your bladder specialist, they will ask you to complete the online program (or a similar program) and then have you return for a follow-up appointment in 12 weeks.
By completing the online program first, your symptoms may improve, and you may not even need to see us. If you still need to see us, completing the program in advance will save you an additional appointment.
Why am I receiving this information even if I do not have urinary incontinence?Medical professionals and organizations, including Medicare, recommend that all women be screened for urinary incontinence every year. In fact, you may receive a letter from Medicare asking if your provider has asked you about urinary incontinence and offered treatment. Because many women are too embarrassed to mention this issue to their provider and too many providers fail to ask about incontinence, most women with incontinence are not identified and we cannot rely on information in medical records to contact women with incontinence.
We are sending this information to all female Kaiser Permanente Southern California members ages 60 and older to identify those who are “suffering in silence.” Because urinary incontinence is so common and can limit women’s social activities and quality of life and lead to other problems, we want to contact and offer the effective treatment in this program to as many women as possible.
We apologize if we offend some women by asking about incontinence symptoms, but it is a necessary question to identify those who can benefit from our program. If you do not suffer from this issue, please just respond “no” to the questions and we will no longer contact you. By answering “no” rather than ignoring the messages, we are able to determine how many people received the messages and how many have incontinence.
We have found that even women without urinary incontinence (bladder leakage) may have a condition called overactive bladder. Overactive bladder results in increased urinary or bladder frequency or urgency without associated leakage. We have learned that women with overactive bladder without leakage can also get better with this virtual self-treatment program. If you do not have either of these issues, please just respond “no” to the questions and we will no longer contact you.
This is very important information that is used to refine current treatments and develop new programs for other conditions. Some people may have suffered from incontinence in the past, but received treatment and now they no longer suffer from the issue. This is the reason we also ask about prior treatment.
There is no contact number for questions. Who do I call for questions?If you complete this 12-week program and find that you require additional assistance, we will either provide you with a phone number for your local Bladder Care Team or if you request further treatment, your local Bladder Care Team will reach out to you if you. If you have any questions about the program, please contact us at UIProgram@kp.org. We will often reach out to discuss your concerns so we can improve our program.
If you have other medical concerns, please contact your primary health care provider, the Virtual Medical Center at 1-833-KP4CARE (1-833-574-2273), or request an e-visit through kp.org.
I cannot read the information on my phone because it is too small. Do I have another option to view it?We have found that many members and the population in general consume a vast amount of material on their smart phones. We understand that much of this program’s educational material is made to be viewed on a standard size printed page. We heard you and have now placed the program’s material (links including videos & brochures) on kp.org in your Online Personal Action Plan under the “Urinary Incontinence” button or section.
If you have opted-in for text messaging, we will continue to send reminders, questions about the program, and the educational material by text unless you “stop” text messaging. Please be aware that asking us to “stop” messages will result in you opting out of all texting programs within Kaiser Permanente. If you are interested in future phone-based reminders, you can opt-in to text messages in the future.
I received a message by text with links. Is it safe to click the links on my phone?That is a great question, and we understand your concerns. We are glad that you are skeptical and checked with us. Text messages from Kaiser Permanente use a short code number, which is 5 or 6 numbers. These numbers are registered by Kaiser Permanente and our contractors.
You will never receive a text message with a link from a private regular phone number. These texts are from us (Your Bladder Care Team) and are secure and safe to read. The same is true of the links to both video and brochures found in the texts. However, since you are already here on your own personalized action plan, feel free to view the material here. You will still receive your reminders and questions by texts on your phone.
If I receive a message by text, can I just respond?This is an automated program that is not actively monitored so it is best just to answer the questions that are asked. If you have questions about medications and other appointments, we recommend using kp.org including e-visit and other services.
I checked with my primary care provider, and he/she did not know about this program.The Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care Team has conducted an extensive outreach campaign with the Southern California primary care providers and posted information about the program in the physician newsletter, However, it is difficult for many providers to keep track of all the wonderful programs that Kaiser Permanente offers, and they may not be aware of it. You can let them know about it next time you talk with them.
We don’t recommend this approach. As we stated earlier, conservative therapy is the first step in treatment of incontinence. If you have not completed this treatment prior to seeing your bladder specialist, they will ask you to complete the online program (or a similar program) and then have you return for a follow-up appointment in 12 weeks.
By completing the online program first, your symptoms may improve, and you may not even need to see us. If you still need to see us, completing the program in advance will save you an additional appointment.
Medical professionals and organizations, including Medicare, recommend that all women be screened for urinary incontinence every year. In fact, you may receive a letter from Medicare asking if your provider has asked you about urinary incontinence and offered treatment. Because many women are too embarrassed to mention this issue to their provider and too many providers fail to ask about incontinence, most women with incontinence are not identified and we cannot rely on information in medical records to contact women with incontinence.
We are sending this information to all female Kaiser Permanente Southern California members ages 60 and older to identify those who are “suffering in silence.” Because urinary incontinence is so common and can limit women’s social activities and quality of life and lead to other problems, we want to contact and offer the effective treatment in this program to as many women as possible.
We apologize if we offend some women by asking about incontinence symptoms, but it is a necessary question to identify those who can benefit from our program. If you do not suffer from this issue, please just respond “no” to the questions and we will no longer contact you. By answering “no” rather than ignoring the messages, we are able to determine how many people received the messages and how many have incontinence.
We have found that even women without urinary incontinence (bladder leakage) may have a condition called overactive bladder. Overactive bladder results in increased urinary or bladder frequency or urgency without associated leakage. We have learned that women with overactive bladder without leakage can also get better with this virtual self-treatment program. If you do not have either of these issues, please just respond “no” to the questions and we will no longer contact you.
This is very important information that is used to refine current treatments and develop new programs for other conditions. Some people may have suffered from incontinence in the past, but received treatment and now they no longer suffer from the issue. This is the reason we also ask about prior treatment.
There is no contact number for questions. Who do I call for questions?If you complete this 12-week program and find that you require additional assistance, we will either provide you with a phone number for your local Bladder Care Team or if you request further treatment, your local Bladder Care Team will reach out to you if you. If you have any questions about the program, please contact us at UIProgram@kp.org. We will often reach out to discuss your concerns so we can improve our program.
If you have other medical concerns, please contact your primary health care provider, the Virtual Medical Center at 1-833-KP4CARE (1-833-574-2273), or request an e-visit through kp.org.
I cannot read the information on my phone because it is too small. Do I have another option to view it?We have found that many members and the population in general consume a vast amount of material on their smart phones. We understand that much of this program’s educational material is made to be viewed on a standard size printed page. We heard you and have now placed the program’s material (links including videos & brochures) on kp.org in your Online Personal Action Plan under the “Urinary Incontinence” button or section.
If you have opted-in for text messaging, we will continue to send reminders, questions about the program, and the educational material by text unless you “stop” text messaging. Please be aware that asking us to “stop” messages will result in you opting out of all texting programs within Kaiser Permanente. If you are interested in future phone-based reminders, you can opt-in to text messages in the future.
I received a message by text with links. Is it safe to click the links on my phone?That is a great question, and we understand your concerns. We are glad that you are skeptical and checked with us. Text messages from Kaiser Permanente use a short code number, which is 5 or 6 numbers. These numbers are registered by Kaiser Permanente and our contractors.
You will never receive a text message with a link from a private regular phone number. These texts are from us (Your Bladder Care Team) and are secure and safe to read. The same is true of the links to both video and brochures found in the texts. However, since you are already here on your own personalized action plan, feel free to view the material here. You will still receive your reminders and questions by texts on your phone.
If I receive a message by text, can I just respond?This is an automated program that is not actively monitored so it is best just to answer the questions that are asked. If you have questions about medications and other appointments, we recommend using kp.org including e-visit and other services.
I checked with my primary care provider, and he/she did not know about this program.The Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care Team has conducted an extensive outreach campaign with the Southern California primary care providers and posted information about the program in the physician newsletter, However, it is difficult for many providers to keep track of all the wonderful programs that Kaiser Permanente offers, and they may not be aware of it. You can let them know about it next time you talk with them.
If you complete this 12-week program and find that you require additional assistance, we will either provide you with a phone number for your local Bladder Care Team or if you request further treatment, your local Bladder Care Team will reach out to you if you. If you have any questions about the program, please contact us at UIProgram@kp.org. We will often reach out to discuss your concerns so we can improve our program.
If you have other medical concerns, please contact your primary health care provider, the Virtual Medical Center at 1-833-KP4CARE (1-833-574-2273), or request an e-visit through kp.org.
We have found that many members and the population in general consume a vast amount of material on their smart phones. We understand that much of this program’s educational material is made to be viewed on a standard size printed page. We heard you and have now placed the program’s material (links including videos & brochures) on kp.org in your Online Personal Action Plan under the “Urinary Incontinence” button or section.
If you have opted-in for text messaging, we will continue to send reminders, questions about the program, and the educational material by text unless you “stop” text messaging. Please be aware that asking us to “stop” messages will result in you opting out of all texting programs within Kaiser Permanente. If you are interested in future phone-based reminders, you can opt-in to text messages in the future.
I received a message by text with links. Is it safe to click the links on my phone?That is a great question, and we understand your concerns. We are glad that you are skeptical and checked with us. Text messages from Kaiser Permanente use a short code number, which is 5 or 6 numbers. These numbers are registered by Kaiser Permanente and our contractors.
You will never receive a text message with a link from a private regular phone number. These texts are from us (Your Bladder Care Team) and are secure and safe to read. The same is true of the links to both video and brochures found in the texts. However, since you are already here on your own personalized action plan, feel free to view the material here. You will still receive your reminders and questions by texts on your phone.
If I receive a message by text, can I just respond?This is an automated program that is not actively monitored so it is best just to answer the questions that are asked. If you have questions about medications and other appointments, we recommend using kp.org including e-visit and other services.
I checked with my primary care provider, and he/she did not know about this program.The Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care Team has conducted an extensive outreach campaign with the Southern California primary care providers and posted information about the program in the physician newsletter, However, it is difficult for many providers to keep track of all the wonderful programs that Kaiser Permanente offers, and they may not be aware of it. You can let them know about it next time you talk with them.
That is a great question, and we understand your concerns. We are glad that you are skeptical and checked with us. Text messages from Kaiser Permanente use a short code number, which is 5 or 6 numbers. These numbers are registered by Kaiser Permanente and our contractors.
You will never receive a text message with a link from a private regular phone number. These texts are from us (Your Bladder Care Team) and are secure and safe to read. The same is true of the links to both video and brochures found in the texts. However, since you are already here on your own personalized action plan, feel free to view the material here. You will still receive your reminders and questions by texts on your phone.
This is an automated program that is not actively monitored so it is best just to answer the questions that are asked. If you have questions about medications and other appointments, we recommend using kp.org including e-visit and other services.
I checked with my primary care provider, and he/she did not know about this program.The Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care Team has conducted an extensive outreach campaign with the Southern California primary care providers and posted information about the program in the physician newsletter, However, it is difficult for many providers to keep track of all the wonderful programs that Kaiser Permanente offers, and they may not be aware of it. You can let them know about it next time you talk with them.
The Kaiser Permanente Bladder Care Team has conducted an extensive outreach campaign with the Southern California primary care providers and posted information about the program in the physician newsletter, However, it is difficult for many providers to keep track of all the wonderful programs that Kaiser Permanente offers, and they may not be aware of it. You can let them know about it next time you talk with them.