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.
Tomoaia-Cotisel A, Scammon DL, Waitzman NJ, Cronholm PF, Halladay JR, Driscoll DL, Solberg LI, Hsu C, Tai-Seale M, Hiratsuka V, Shih SC, Fetters MD, Wise CG, Alexander JA, Hauser D, McMullen CK, Scholle SH, Tirodkar MA, Schmidt L, Donahue KE, Parchman ML, Stange KC. Context matters: the experience of 14 research teams in systematically reporting contextual factors important for practice change. Ann Fam Med. 2013 May-Jun;11 Suppl 1:S115-23. doi: 10.1370/afm.1549. PubMed
Thilen SR, Bryson CL, Reid RJ, Wijeysundera DN, Weaver EM, Treggiari MM. Patterns of preoperative consultation and surgical specialty in an integrated healthcare system. Anesthesiology. 2013 May;118(5):1028-37. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e31828ea68a. Epub 2013 Mar 14. PubMed
Conrad D, Grembowski D, Gibbons C, Marcus-Smith M, Hernandez S, Chang J, Renz A, Lau B, dela Cruz E. A report on eight early stage state and regional innovation projects testing approaches to value-based payments. Health Aff (Millwood). 2013 May;32(5):998-1006. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2012.1124. PubMed
Vo AA, Petrozzino J, Yeung K, Sinha A, Kahwaji J, Peng A, Villicana R, Mackowiak J, Jordan SC. Efficacy, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of desensitization using IVIG and rituximab. Transplantation. 2013 Mar 27;95(6):852-8. doi: 10.1097/TP.0b013e3182802f88. PubMed
Koh HK, Brach C, Harris LM, Parchman ML. A proposed 'health literate care model' would constitute a systems approach to improving patients' engagement in care. Health Aff (Millwood). 2013;32(2):357-67. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2012.1205. 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