"Invest in women and girls in your communities and your communities will get better." That, says Barbara J. Mosacchio, CEO of The Atlanta Women's Foundation, is the key to improving communities around the country.

A recipient of multiple Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit grants since 2004, The Atlanta Women's Foundation [...]]]> "Invest in women and girls in your communities and your communities will get better." That, says Barbara J. Mosacchio, CEO of The Atlanta Women's Foundation, is the key to improving communities around the country.

A recipient of multiple Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit grants since 2004, The Atlanta Women's Foundation (AWF) is the only public foundation in Georgia that exclusively funds organizations working to improve the lives of women and girls across Atlanta. Foundation-funded organizations cover everything from homeless shelters and health clinics to support for low-wage earners and domestic violence survivors.

Why women and girls?

The reasons for AWF's focus are many:

• 43 percent of female-headed households in Atlanta with one child have an income below the minimum budget needed for a family of that size. 61 percent of single women with two children earn below this level. (Status of Women in Atlanta: A Survey of Economic, Demographic, and Social Indicators for the 15 County Area, May 2007)
• Georgia has the eighth highest teen birth rate in the nation. The poverty rate for children born to teen mothers who have never married and have not graduated from high school is 78 percent. (Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Kids Count 2008)
• The graduation rate for females in the state of Georgia is just 63.8 percent. (Diplomas Count 2008)

By reducing barriers to health care, education, personal development, and economic growth, the Foundation is helping women and girls "break the generational cycle of poverty."

Barbara Mosacchio says, "The Foundation is making a difference in the lives of women and girls in Atlanta, and no matter where you are, investing in the lives of women and girls is a great idea."

See how this model for social change is making a difference.

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 [...]]]>

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.

Childhood obesity is a serious problem across our nation. Fortunately, help is coming, with the first lady herself joining the fight.

Michelle Obama was recently named honorary chair of the newly formed Partnership for a Healthier America. Founded by six leading foundations and [...]]]>

Childhood obesity is a serious problem across our nation. Fortunately, help is coming, with the first lady herself joining the fight.

Michelle Obama was recently named honorary chair of the newly formed Partnership for a Healthier America. Founded by six leading foundations and nonprofits, including Kaiser Permanente, this organization was formed to combat childhood obesity.

The four pillars of the first lady's plan

Earlier this month, Michelle Obama laid out the four pillars of her nationwide initiative to fight childhood obesity. Her "Let's Move" campaign will address the issue in the following four ways:

• offering parents the tools and information they need to make healthy choices for their kids
• getting healthier food into our nation's schools
• ensuring that all our families have access to healthy, affordable food in their communities
• increasing opportunities for kids to be physically active, both in and out of school

Good health is in our DNA

"In every community we serve, Kaiser Permanente works to fight obesity, reduce health disparities, and make healthy food and physical activity a part of everyday life," said Raymond J. Baxter, PhD, Kaiser Permanente's senior vice president, Community Benefit, Research and Health Policy.

From extending access to public pools and providing swim lessons for thousands of Southern California families through Operation Splash to sponsoring farmers' markets in local communities across the country, we've long supported healthy eating and physical activity as part of our integrated approach to combat childhood obesity.

Ultimately, our biggest partner in this battle is you. Visit our Healthy Kids section for a collection of helpful posts, including how to determine the appropriate weight for your child by calculating their body mass index.

To read our full statement on this important issue, visit our News Center.

Click here to view the embedded video.

At Kaiser Permanente, we believe that each of us can play a role in shaping the health and wellness of the places we live.

By supporting parks, farmers' markets, and public spaces for physical [...]]]>

Click here to view the embedded video.

At Kaiser Permanente, we believe that each of us can play a role in shaping the health and wellness of the places we live.

By supporting parks, farmers' markets, and public spaces for physical activity, we can all help create and sustain the vitality of our neighborhoods. Watch an innovative practice with a “clean” message.

It’s all new. All inclusive. And all about what it takes to thrive.

Here you will find the latest tools, information, and daily posts required to help you live a better, healthier life.

There are six sections to the new site:

Not getting your child vaccinated may put other children in the community at risk, a new study says.

In the study, children whose parents declined to have them vaccinated for whooping cough were 23 times more likely to get the illness.

“It also shows that the decision to refuse immunizations [...]]]> Not getting your child vaccinated may put other children in the community at risk, a new study says.

In the study, children whose parents declined to have them vaccinated for whooping cough were 23 times more likely to get the illness.

“It also shows that the decision to refuse immunizations could have important ramifications for the health of the entire community,” says study lead author Jason Glanz, PhD, a senior scientist at Kaiser Permanente’s Institute for Health Research. “Based on our analysis, we found that one in 10 additional whooping cough infections could have been prevented by immunization.”

Many parents who don’t have their children vaccinated often mistakenly believe they won’t be at risk for disease since most other children have been immunized, the researchers said.

Find out more about the study on the risks of not immunizing children.

Your weight may increase your risk of death more than previously thought. A new study finds that being extremely obese or extremely underweight increases your risk of dying.

Being only slightly overweight eliminated much of that risk, say researchers, but don’t take that as an excuse to add extra [...]]]> Your weight may increase your risk of death more than previously thought. A new study finds that being extremely obese or extremely underweight increases your risk of dying.

Being only slightly overweight eliminated much of that risk, say researchers, but don’t take that as an excuse to add extra pounds.

"Our study only looked at mortality, not at quality of life, and there are many negative health consequences associated with obesity, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes," says Mark Kaplan, coauthor of the study and a professor of community health at Portland State University.

Doctor recommendation: Good health is more than your BMI number.

Improving your health can start at home. Our Kaiser Permanente environmental experts have put together a list of simple “green” steps to make your home healthier and more eco-friendly.

Buying locally produced fruits and vegetables saves energy by reducing the amount of fossil fuels needed to transport the items [...]]]> Improving your health can start at home. Our Kaiser Permanente environmental experts have put together a list of simple “green” steps to make your home healthier and more eco-friendly.

Buying locally produced fruits and vegetables saves energy by reducing the amount of fossil fuels needed to transport the items around the globe. Additionally, the food is fresher and tastier. For example, in 2007, we bought 60 tons of locally grown, sustainable farmed produce for our hospital meals. We also sponsor 30 farmers’ markets at our facilities around the country.

Improving your health can start at home. Our Kaiser Permanente environmental experts have put together a list of simple “green” steps to make your home healthier and more eco-friendly.

While shopping, if you buy only a few products, don’t take a bag. For larger quantities, bring your own reusable [...]]]> Improving your health can start at home. Our Kaiser Permanente environmental experts have put together a list of simple “green” steps to make your home healthier and more eco-friendly.

While shopping, if you buy only a few products, don’t take a bag. For larger quantities, bring your own reusable bags.