For helping pave the way for change in the health care industry, Kaiser Permanente was named the fifth most innovative health care company in the world by Fast Company magazine.
In the publication's annual 2010 Most Innovative Companies issue, we were recognized for pioneering a shared electronic health record system with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as well as for the cutting-edge research being done at our Sidney R. Garfield Health Care Innovation Center.
The shared health record system with the VA
The pilot program with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs enables clinicians from the VA and Kaiser Permanente to share patient data, such as medical history and medication and allergy information, to obtain a more comprehensive view of a patient's health.
This groundbreaking program is the first to tackle the challenges of sharing data across different electronic health information systems. With the ultimate aim of improved quality of care, patient safety, and overall efficiency, the program could become a model for information exchange among medical institutions nationwide.
The Sidney R. Garfield Health Care Innovation Center
Opened in 2006, the Garfield Center is a one-of-a-kind testing ground for the development of new technologies, practices, physical environments, and clinical operations in health care.
Bringing our doctors, nurses, and volunteers together in a common research setting—which includes the unprecedented Digital Operating Room of the Future—research at the center identifies promising new products and practices to be piloted in the clinical environment.
Current and past initiatives have included an award-winning medication error reduction program, simplified exam room and mini family clinic concepts, a handheld computer tablet for nurses and physicians, and a knowledge exchange program for nurses that allows for more efficient data transfer between nursing shifts.
Making the list
In selecting those companies worthy of the "world's most innovative" designation, Fast Company’s editorial team analyzes information on thousands of businesses across the globe. Beyond revenue growth and high profit margins, they seek to recognize companies with creative models and progressive cultures that define innovation across the business landscape.
filed in: State of Health
subjects: communication-techniques, community-health, health-technology
