September 6, 2001
For more information, call:
Steve Krizman
Kaiser Permanente
Phone: (303) 344-7932
E-mail: Steve.A.Krizman@kp.org
Kaiser Permanente Colorado sets pace in quality scores
Denver, CO – Kaiser Permanente's Colorado region continues to pace the nation in quality of care scores, according to figures released today by the independent agency that accredits health maintenance organizations.
The National Committee for Quality Assurance's (NCQA) annual quality report card shows that for the second year in a row, the 372 participating health maintenance organizations have made significant gains in quality and service scores. Kaiser Permanente's Colorado region scores above the national average in all 26 key quality measures selected by the NCQA. In 10 of those quality measures, Kaiser Permanente in Colorado scores in the top 10 percent nationally:
- Adolescent patients adequately vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (87 percent); against hepatitis B (80 percent); and against chickenpox (89 percent).
- Asthma patients between 18 and 56 on proper medication (82 percent).
- Heart patients getting timely cholesterol screening (94 percent) and having their cholesterol level under control (86 percent).
- Diabetes patients monitored for kidney disease (72 percent) and having LDL cholesterol under control (64 percent).
- Mental health patients receiving follow-up care within seven days of hospitalization (76 percent).
- Timely follow-up care after birth (89 percent).
"Our consistently high scores over the years are no accident," said Jack Cochran, MD, medical director for Kaiser Permanente's Colorado region. "Kaiser Permanente physicians closely monitor the health of our patients. They make sure patients receive timely screening and preventive care, and they use the latest evidence-based therapies to help those who are ill."
"This attention to detail is carried out by our on-staff physicians and health care professionals in the Denver metro area, and by our network of affiliated physicians and providers in Colorado Springs," Cochran said.
The NCQA has estimated that this year's improvements in HMO quality measures translate to 8 million fewer sick days—a cost savings to business of $1.4 billion nationally. In a related development this week, Kaiser Permanente's Colorado region was ranked among the best health plans in the nation by a leading consumer magazine. The magazine's annual survey of its subscribers ranked Kaiser Permanente Colorado 11th nationally—the highest ranking in the state.
Kaiser Permanente is a non-profit health care organization that cares for 392,000 members in the six-county Denver metro area and in the Colorado Springs area. In the Denver metro area, care is provided by an integrated team of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, mental health counselors and physical therapists. In Colorado Springs, Kaiser Permanente cares for its members through an affiliated network of community-based physicians and other health care providers.
Key quality and service measures, as selected by
the National Committee for Quality Assurance:
| Quality and service
measure |
National
average |
Kaiser
Permanente
Colorado |
| Adolescents immunized for mumps, measles, rubella |
62.3% |
87.1%* |
| Adolescents immunized for hepatitis B |
41.1 |
79.8* |
| Adolescents immunized for chickenpox |
28.5 |
88.6* |
| Smokers advised to quit |
66.3 |
78.3 |
| Adult asthma patients (ages 18-56) on proper medication |
64.4 |
82.3* |
| Heart attack patients getting beta blocker treatment |
89.4 |
93.4 |
| Women 52-69 screened for breast cancer in last two years |
74.5 |
80.5 |
| Women screened for cervical cancer |
78.1 |
85.9 |
| Children immunized for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus |
80.4 |
82.6 |
| Children immunized for polio |
84.2 |
90.6 |
| Children immunized for mumps, measles, rubella |
88.4 |
89.6 |
| Children immunized for influenza B |
82.7 |
92.8 |
| Children immunized for hepatitis B |
77.9 |
82.9 |
| Children immunized for chickenpox |
70.5 |
82.3 |
| Heart patients whose cholesterol has been checked |
74.2 |
93.7* |
| Heart patients whose cholesterol is under control |
53.4 |
85.9* |
| Claims processing |
80.8 |
NA** |
| Diabetes patients whose eyes have been checked |
48.0 |
63.0 |
| Diabetes patients monitored for kidney disease |
41.4 |
71.8* |
| Diabetes patients whose LDL cholesterol has been checked |
76.5 |
82.2 |
| Diabetes patients whose LDL cholesterol is under control |
44.3 |
63.8* |
| Diabetes patients whose hemoglobin has been checked |
78.4 |
84.2 |
| Diabetes patients whose hemoglobin is poorly controlled |
42.5 |
37.7 |
| Hypertensive patients whose blood pressure is under control |
51.5 |
60.8 |
| Members who say plan has courteous office staff |
91.3 |
91.4 |
| Members favorable about plan's customer service |
66.6 |
73.1 |
| Mental health patients getting follow-up care within seven days of hospitalization |
48.2 |
76.1* |
| Members saying they received care quickly |
78.3 |
78.5 |
| Members saying they got the care they needed |
75.4 |
78.6 |
| Members giving a high overall rating
of the health care they received |
72.0 |
66.2 |
| Members giving a high overall rating of their health plan |
59.3 |
60.1 |
| Women receiving timely prenatal care |
83.3 |
90.6 |
| Women receiving timely postnatal care |
74.1 |
89.2* |
| |
|
|
* These scores are in the top 10 percent nationally.
** Kaiser Permanente patients receive care from in-house staff; there are no claims. |
