Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) covers many fields, but much of what we do is health services research. That means we’re studying what really works — and what doesn't — in health care, with a focus on achieving aims including better population health, improved patient experience, and lower health care costs.
It all starts with Kaiser Permanente Washington’s learning health system, where research and practice work side by side to inform and improve each other. Researchers benefit from Kaiser Permanente Washington’s comprehensive capture of rich information about patients’ health, use of health care, and costs. Clinical leaders benefit from rigorous evaluations of novel innovations in care delivery and provider reimbursement.
“Together, we are learning what it takes to quickly translate what works into our health system — and track the long-term effects on outcomes that matter to patients, clinicians, and policymakers,” said David Arterburn, MD, MPH, a senior investigator. Here are just a few examples:
The impact of our health services research is extensive. Being part of the Kaiser Permanente system, along with our membership in the Health Care Systems Research Network, the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium, and other national and international collaborations increases the size and diversity of our study populations. These connections also help KPWHRI shape care and policy beyond the Kaiser Permanente Washington system.
Averill MM, Dillon-Sumner L, Stergachis A, Sconyers J, Summerside N, Brazg T, Errett N. Integrating public health students into interprofessional education. J Interprof Care. 2020 May-Jun;34(3):427-430. doi: 10.1080/13561820.2019.1690436. Epub 2019 Dec 21. PubMed
Zhang J, Haynes K, Mendelsohn AB, Marshall J, Barr CE, McDermott C, Brown J, Kline A, Kenney J, King KJ, Holmes C, Yeung K, Barron J, Yun H, Lockhart CM. Capture of biologic and biosimilar dispensings in a consortium of U.S.-based claims databases: utilization of national drug codes and healthcare common procedure coding system modifiers in medical claims. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2020 Jul;29(7):778-785. doi: 10.1002/pds.4934. Epub 2019 Dec 4. PubMed
Eavey J, Ramaprasan A, Abraham L, Buist DS. Comorbidity index score increases due to coding artifacts. Epidemiology. 2020 Mar;31(2):e13-e15. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000001142. PubMed
Winer RL, Lin J, Tiro JA, Miglioretti DL, Beatty T, Gao H, Kimbel K, Thayer C, Buist DSM. Effect of mailed human papillomavirus test kits vs usual care reminders on cervical cancer screening uptake, precancer detection, and treatment: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(11):e1914729. Epub 2019/11/07. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.14729. PubMed
Masoudi FA, Viragh T, Magid DJ, Moghtaderi A, Schilsky S, Sage WM, Goodrich G, Newton KM, Smith DH, Black B. Trends in Medicare payment rates for noninvasive cardiac tests and association with testing location. JAMA Intern Med. 2019 Oct 14. pii: 2753121. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.4269. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
![]() David E. Arterburn, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
![]() Rita Mangione-Smith, MD, MPHExecutive Director and Senior Investigator, KPWHRI; Vice President for Research and Health Care Innovation, Kaiser Permanente Washington |
![]() Robert Penfold, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() James D. Ralston, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
![]() Katie Coleman, MSPHDirector, ACT Center |
![]() Katharine A. Bradley, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
![]() Paula Lozano, MD, MPHSenior Investigator; Director, ACT Center |
![]() Jessica Chubak, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Karen Wernli, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Erin J. Bowles, MPHDirector, Collaborative Science |
![]() Gwen Lapham, PhD, MPH, MSWAssistant Investigator |
![]() Melissa L. Anderson, MSPrincipal Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Eric Johnson, MSSenior Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Lorella Palazzo, PhDSenior Collaborative Scientist |
![]() Paula R. Blasi, MPHCollaborative Scientist |
![]() Yates Coley, PhDAssociate Biostatistics Investigator |
![]() Joseph E. Glass, PhD, MSWAssociate Investigator |
![]() Paige D. Wartko, PhD, MPHSenior Collaborative Scientist |
![]() Leah K. Hamilton, PhDSenior Collaborative Scientist |
![]() Chloe Krakauer, PhDCollaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Claire Allen, MPHManager, Collaborative Science |
![]() Theresa E. Matson, PhD, MPHCollaborative Scientist |
![]() Nora Henrikson, PhD, MPHAssociate Investigator |
Douglas A. Conrad, PhD, MBA, MHA
Health Services and Dental Public Health Sciences
Center for Health Management Research
Finance and Business Economics
University of Washington (UW)
David Grembowski, PhD
Health Services and Dental Public Health Sciences
Adjunct Professor, Sociology, UW
Larry Kessler, ScD
UW Department of Health Services
Emily Williams, PhD, MPH
UW Department of Health Services; VA Health Services Research & Development Center of Excellence