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.
Escudero JN, Tiro JA, Buist DSM, Gao H, Beatty T, Lin J, Miglioretti DL, Winer RL. Impact of different financial incentive structures on a web-based health survey: Do timing and amount matter? Connect Health Telemed. July, 3 2023;2(2). doi: 10.20517/chatmed.2023.002.
Birken SA, Matulewicz R, Pathak R, Wagi CR, Peluso AG, Bundy R, Witek L, Krol B, Parchman ML, Nielsen M, Dharod A. Toward the deimplementation of computed tomography urogram for patients with low- to intermediate-risk microscopic hematuria: A mixed-method study of factors influencing continued use. Urol Pract. 2023 Jul 3;101097UPJ0000000000000429. doi: 10.1097/UPJ.0000000000000429. Online ahead of print.Online ahead of print. Online ahead of print. PubMed
Lesser RP, Webber WRS, Miglioretti DL. Timing of cognitive effects on afterdischarge termination. Clin Neurophysiol. 2023 Jun 28;153:28-32. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.06.005. Online ahead of print. PubMed
Hoopes AJ, Cushing-Haugen KL, Coley RY, Fuller S, White C, Ralston JD, Mangione-Smith R. Characteristics of adolescents who use secure messaging on a health system's patient portal. Pediatrics. 2023 Jul 1;152(1):e2022060271. doi: 10.1542/peds.2022-060271. PubMed
Kilbourne AM, Geng E, Eshun-Wilson I, Sweeney S, Shelley D, Cohen DJ, Kirchner JE, Fernandez ME, Parchman ML. How does facilitation in healthcare work? Using mechanism mapping to illuminate the black box of a meta-implementation strategy. Implement Sci Commun. 2023;4(1):53. doi: 10.1186/s43058-023-00435-1. PubMed
![]() Michael L. Parchman, MD, MPHSenior Investigator, ACT Center |
![]() 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, Collaborative Science; Director, ACT Center |
![]() Katharine A. Bradley, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
![]() Paula Lozano, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
![]() Jessica Chubak, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Karen Wernli, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Erin J. Bowles, MPHManager, Collaborative Science |
![]() Nora Henrikson, PhD, MPHAssociate Investigator |
![]() Aruna Kamineni, PhD, MPHAssistant Investigator |
![]() Gwen Lapham, PhD, MPH, MSWAssistant Investigator |
![]() Melissa L. Anderson, MSPrincipal Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Eric Johnson, MSSenior Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Lorella Palazzo, PhDCollaborative Scientist |
![]() Paula R. Blasi, MPHCollaborative Scientist |
![]() Yates Coley, PhDAssociate Biostatistics Investigator |
![]() Joseph E. Glass, PhD, MSWAssociate Investigator |
![]() Paige D. Wartko, PhD, MPHCollaborative Scientist |
![]() Leah K. Hamilton, PhDSenior Collaborative Scientist |
![]() Chloe Krakauer, PhDCollaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Claire Allen, MPHManager, Collaborative Science |
![]() Theresa E. Matson, PhD, MPHCollaborative Scientist |
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