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.
Busch AC, Shivaram M, Glass JE, Hetzel S, Gugani SP, Gassman M, Krahn D, Deyo B, Brown RT. Pre-discharge injectable vs. oral naltrexone to improve post-discharge treatment engagement among hospitalized veterans with alcohol use disorder: a pilot proof-of-concept study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2017 Jul;41(7):1352-1360. doi: 10.1111/acer.13410. Epub 2017 Jun 12. PubMed
Banta-Green CJ, Coffin PO, Schoeppe JA, Merrill JO, Whiteside LK, Ebersol AK. Heroin and pharmaceutical opioid overdose events: emergency medical response characteristics. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017 Jun 10;178:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.04.021. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Henrikson NB, Chang E, Ulrich K, King D, Anderson ML. Communication with physicians about health care costs: survey of an insured population. Perm J. 2017;21. doi: 10.7812/TPP/16-070. PubMed
Sethi R, Buchlak QD, Yanamadala V, Anderson ML, Baldwin EA, Mecklenburg RS, Leveque JC, Edwards AM, Shea M, Ross L, Wernli KJ. A systematic multidisciplinary initiative for reducing the risk of complications in adult scoliosis surgery. J Neurosurg Spine. 2017 Mar 31:1-7. doi: 10.3171/2016.11.SPINE16537. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Sinaiko AD, Landrum MB, Meyers DJ, Alidina S, Maeng DD, Friedberg M, Kern LM, Edwards A, Flieger S, Houck P, Peele PB, Reid RJ, McGraves-Lloyd K, Finison K, Rosenthal M. Synthesis of research on patient-centered medical homes brings systematic differences into relief. Health Aff (Millwood). 2017 Mar 1;36(3):500-508. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.1235. 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, MPHSenior Collaborative Scientist |
Yates Coley, PhDAssociate Biostatistics Investigator |
Joseph E. Glass, PhD, MSWSenior Scientific 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