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PROFILE OF SUCCESS:

The Labor Management Partnership

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here are many reasons to feel good about working at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco, but one of the truly outstanding features of the KPSF culture is the everevolving Labor Management Partnership (LMP). “The work that the LMP council has done in the past six months has been very impressive,” says Diane DeCorso, medical group administrator, “and we’re moving in a direction of helping the individual departments integrate the partnership into their daily operations.” According the John Spallone, staff optometrist and labor liaison for various unions, “The LMP grew out of the tumult in the health care industry in the early 1990s.” Eventually, the unions and management came up with an agreement in 1997 and asked the unionized workforce to vote for its passage. The unions approved the plan and a steering committee began laying the groundwork for the partnership

Left to right, first row: Diane DeCorso; Debbie Durham; Julie Brown; Carolyn Perkins; George Wong; Marcia Nay; Emily Wu. Second row: Chi Kin Wai, Chris Marinozzi, Michelle Guzman, Lisa Cox; Russell Reif, MD; Mike Alexander; Erica Broddie; Mike Sweet; Ida Hancox

and establishing the principles. The newly formed alliance between labor and management came to prominence in 2000. “Administration at KPSF supports the partnership both philosophically and in more tangible terms,” Spallone says, “seeing to it that the dollars are there when possible for development of the partnership in general and for specific activities.” Some of these specifics include shared-management skill sessions

and the workplace safety initiative. While the LMP council hopes to offer support, Spallone stresses that, “there isn’t an attempt to get into the day-to-day decisions of the departments. We’re trying to guide people versus telling them what to do.” Russell Reiff, MD, is one of two doctors who participates in the LMP council. Looking to continue the collaborative and consensus-based process of the continued on page 4

Partners for the future: KPSF and Wallenberg High School

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Wallenberg students Nweka Emeka and Javan Gardinier take a closer look at an X-ray during a presentation on radiology.

he qualities that make a successful partnership include open dialogue, an ongoing exchange of ideas, and an ability to adapt and respond to change. The newly formed Healthcare Pathways Partnership (HPP) between KPSF and Wallenberg High School is a good example of just such a union. “Being that the school is in our backyard and being good community partners, I

thought it was a perfect opportunity to develop a close relationship with Wallenberg,” says Linda Groah, RN, KPSF chief operating officer and nurse executive. “I want to show the students that there are many different career choices in the health care field,” Groah adds, “and I believe that we can potentially influence some of their future decisions.” The goal of the HPP, according to Annette Bremner, workforce planning consultant and partnership program manager, is to “enhance the scientific learning of junior physiology students and to provide them with information and experiences that will encourage them to choose a career in the health care field.” After a thorough briefing in on-site hospital etiquette and program details, the 30-plus students began attending Thursday morning sessions at the medical center in September. The program will continue through mid-May and includes classes in everything from orthopedic care to diagnostic imaging to pharmacy. The students have all been issued KPSF IDs to wear while they’re at the medical center, which gives them a sense of belonging to the work environment. Sixteen-year-old Javan

Gardinier enjoys the “hands-on experience and getting to see how Kaiser works.” He hopes to pursue a career in the pharmacy once he graduates. During a recent session at 2238 Geary Blvd., Jack Noyes, MD, of the Radiology Department, shared X-ray images and discussed various diagnostic imaging techniques. “I remember hearing talks when I was a kid and they helped me imagine what the future might hold,” comments Noyes. As the students filed out of the Diamond Conference Room, Esther Gee remarked, “I love seeing how the hospital works and I hope to pursue a medical career, so it’s a great way to learn about the field.” The students have a range of topics to look forward to in the coming year, including various body systems and organ function, and careers in nursing and other health care fields. At the end of the program in May, all the students will receive certificates and take part in a celebration of completion. “This is a great way for Kaiser to reach into the community,” says Bremner, “and hopefully welcome some of these students back one day as medical center physicians and staff.”

IN THIS ISSUE

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DOR launches genetics research initiative

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Thriving in 2005: A year in review

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KP tops 2005’s most watched industry report cards

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Bringing safety to work

CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY

Supporting the safety net:

KP Community Benefit funds regional clinics

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arlier this year, Xue Jin Yee, a 27-year-old new mother with no health insurance, had nowhere to turn. When a severe case of post-partum depression set in, she had no resources to get help. Her family was far away in Hong Kong, and her husband worked long hours for little pay. Then someone told her about Oakland’s Asian Health Services. The clinic is one of a network of eight non-profit safety net health care centers supported by the Alameda Health Consortium, which is the main provider of community based health care in Alameda County. Thanks to a special grant of $1 million from our Community Benefit Program, announced by KP CEO George Halvorson last year, the consortium will continue to serve the thousands of working poor like Yee who don’t qualify for Medi-Cal or can’t afford insurance. Support from grants like this or funding through our Quality Improvement Partnership with safety net providers offers needed support to community clinics and public health organizations such as the Alameda Health Consortium, which was just given a $100,000 grant to help manage chronic conditions. In total, KP Community Benefit recently funded 47 grants, ranging from $50,000 to $500,000, and totaling $6.6 million, to clinics and health organizations in Northern California. Most of the grants will be awarded over a two-year period and are focused on enhancing the care provided to patients with chronic conditions. “The Kaiser Permanente grant focuses on improving chronic care management for patients at our community health centers and at the County Medical Center,” said Ralph Silber, MPH, executive director of the Alameda Health Consortium. “There

are a lot of people who don’t qualify for health care insurance. We want to provide for these people.” These grants represent, in large Sherry Hirota, CEO of Oakland’s Asian Health Services, understands measure, how KP is doing its part the importance of the safety net partnership with KP's Community to provide support for the Benefit Program. uninsured, which according to recent U.S. Census Bureau studies, has grown to throughout Alameda County.” nearly 46 million people nationwide. Our support The funding KP gives health care safety net helps providers reach the people with little or no providers such as the Alameda Health Consortium access to health care. will be for the training of peer patient educators to “We absorb patients that the city and county can’t support patients in managing their chronic absorb,” said Susan Park, RN, a clinical services conditions. manager at the Asian Health Services clinic. But “This is a proven, effective model that Kaiser even patients like Yee may easily fall through the Permanente and other health providers use,” said safety net if community based health care clinics Silber. “The funding will also allow doctors in clinics are not adequately funded and supported. When to use the Internet to look up clinical results for she complained about her depression and showed services their patients receive at the County typical symptoms, nurses at the clinic were Medical Center. This will make a big difference in available to empathize with her in Cantonese. They terms of allowing these providers to give more shared similar stories, treatment, and advice, which integrated health care, more continuity, and higher helped improve her condition. quality of care for the patients they share with the The focus of the $100,000 KP grant is to support County Medical Center.” the management of chronic conditions such as “KP is committed to working in every community depression, diabetes, and asthma. KP’s partnership we serve to effect long-term, sustainable change, with the Alameda Health Consortium has netted particularly for populations at risk due to racial and positive results. Over the years, with help from KP ethnic disparities,” said Jean Nudelman, director of grants, the consortium has provided technical KP Community Benefit in Northern California. “It is assistance in areas such as health planning, vital to Kaiser Permanente’s overall social mission resource development, and administration for the of improving health in our communities, to share network of clinics it coordinates. valuable resources with all our partners.” “Our partnership with Kaiser Permanente has To learn more about our Community Benefit significant strength in the clinics,” said Silber. “It Programs and volunteer opportunities with our has helped us to improve the quality of care as well safety net partnerships, please contact John as the health outcomes of low-income people Garrison at (510) 987-4956.

QUALITY

KP to launch major new genetics research initiative BY KEVIN D. MCCORMACK

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t’s not often you get a chance to be part of medical history, but physicians, employees and members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California will soon get a chance to do just that. KP is getting ready to launch a major new research initiative that could ultimately help change the way we treat disease, and perhaps even give us the tools to prevent some diseases in the first place. The Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health is a groundbreaking project led by Division of Research (DOR) investigators that will help identify the genetic and environmental factors that can lead to

diseases such as cancer, heart disease, asthma, even diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer’s. The research is, in many ways, an extension of work that KP has been doing for years. In fact the DOR has been teaming up with physicians, KP employees, and members since 1961 to carry out important studies that have improved the health of society at large. KP research has led to the development of vaccines to help prevent infant pneumonia and chicken pox, improvements in the way we screen for cervical cancer, and more aggressive treatment of conditions such as high blood pressure that help lower the risk of more

serious problems such as heart attack or stroke. Because the research was done by KP, our members are often the first to benefit from the discoveries. “The Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health will take that research into an exciting new area, looking at how genetic makeup influences the risk of disease, even how it could affect the way you respond to medications,” said Catherine Schaefer, PhD, the lead investigator on the project. In the spring of 2006, DOR will send surveys to members throughout Northern California to gather important background information for the program, continued on page 7

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CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY

2005 will be remembered for your humanitarian contributions

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A Perspective from Mary Ann Thode, president, Northern California Region, KFHP/H, and Robert Pearl, MD, executive director and CEO, TPMG his was a year of uncommon tragedy in the world with the tsunami in South Asia, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, followed by the earthquake in Pakistan. The expression “think globally, act locally” was redefined by KP employees and physicians who offered aid around the world after this series of natural disasters. Your selfless and heroic actions on behalf of people in such great need made us and the entire organization incredibly proud. The New Year began with the monumental task of trying to offer assistance in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami that slammed South Asia on Dec. 26. More than 200,000 were killed in the disaster, and many more displaced. Within hours of the tsunami, hundreds of you had e-mailed us with offers of concern and help. Within days, KP had pledged over $1 million to relief efforts, and we had identified and organized volunteers. Within weeks, the first team of KP Northern California physicians

was actively providing care in Sri Lanka and Indonesia—we would be remiss if we didn’t recognize all who helped make this volunteer effort possible by covering for their colleagues back at home. Few of us expected to relive the anxiety and sorrow of another human tragedy so soon. But the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, followed by an earthquake in Asia, brought even more need. Once again, there was an overwhelming response by KP physicians and employees who expressed their concern and offered assistance. KP pledged $3 million to hurricane relief and $1 million in aid to Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. Dozens more people went to Louisiana and Houston to help. Some of the physicians who volunteered last winter in South Asia faced disaster again in the Gulf Coast and Pakistan. Our work continues. We’ve joined with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation in running ads in major U.S. publications urging

W O R L D A I D S D AY

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KP employees on front line of AIDS fight

s the world focuses on World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, intrepid Kaiser Permanente health care workers continue their daily fight against the deadly disease. “We have one of the best HIV programs in the country,” said Michael Allerton, HIV operations and policy leader with The Permanente Medical Group. In studies and comparisons to other large health networks, KP receives glowing grades on quality of care measures, he said. Nationally and internationally recognized HIV/AIDS experts are also among KP ranks, Allerton added. KPSF’s HIV Services Team has the largest number of patients. Their annual rate of new HIV/AIDS cases is roughly five to six times that of all other Northern California sites combined, said Leo Hurley, KP analyst with the Division of Research. Overall, about 40-plus percent of the KPNC’s AIDS patients are treated in San Francisco, Allerton said.

The SF team waging this important battle comprises pharmacists, registered nurses, a behaviorist, a health educator, a dietician, a diabetes nurse, and a physical therapist, as well as physicians, nurse practitioners, and medical assistants, said Stephen Follansbee, MD, director of the HIV Services Team at KPSF. Other KP departments, such as psychiatry and the chemical dependency unit, lend a hand, as does the community advisory board, which draws from 10 KP Plan members and 10 staff members. Other facilities have also blazed trails. For instance, Sally Slome, MD, at KP Oakland, created a clinic for women with HIV/AIDS. About 11 percent of KP HIV/AIDS patients are women, and Oakland treats most of them. And the Santa Rosa Medical Center was the first to forge a “multiple disciplinary” team that San Francisco and other facilities use. KP has led the way among health care providers in shortening hospital stays, and keeping more patients alive and feeling better, Allerton said.

Americans to continue to volunteer funds to the Gulf Coast. Some physicians from Pakistan and other impacted countries have gone to help in their homelands. In addition, we are currently exploring ways in which we can hire displaced health care workers from Louisiana. This kind of outpouring of concern and action demonstrates how compassionate KP people are here at home and across the globe. As one physician, fresh from a clinic in Houston, wrote, “From what I have seen among these people who I care for, healing their physical pain or giving them what they need materially does not really lift up their spirits. What does is the human bonds deep inside of us. ... I have learned a very valuable lesson in life that I will never forget.” We are inspired by your overwhelming response to these natural disasters and to those in need. You demonstrate in a powerful way that our mission to improve health is alive in the people of Kaiser Permanente.

Important notice about Medicare drug benefits for KP Senior Advantage members!

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aiser Permanente Senior Advantage Medicare members need not take any action to enroll in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, or Medicare Part D. In November, KP sent them details regarding their 2006 medical benefits and new Medicare prescription drug plans. KP Medicare members who join an independent Part D prescription drug plan will automatically lose their KP health plan coverage. The KP Senior Advantage plan will already include Part D drug benefits effective January 1, 2006.

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Thriving in 2005 JANUARY

MAY

• KP physicians part of medical rescue team working in tsunami-stricken Southeast Asia • San Francisco Magazine declares that KPSF rocks!

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We celebrate our nurses at the Nurses’ Lounge We rethink our daily commute by biking to work Health Education pilots innovative health coach program KPSF sets off sparks at KFOG KaBoom! AAHI hosts a memorable dinner for the African-American community

MARCH Infection Control launches the Hand Hygiene Program, which encourages physicians, staff and members to reduce the spread of germs with regular application of a waterless alcohol degermer.

APRIL • Donate Life Campaign • The Employee Volunteer Fair successfully shares with our physicians and staff the benefits of volunteering. Volunteering was at an all-time high in 2005. By volunteering at KPSF’s many events this past year, our employees became ambassadors of the Thrive message, working together to help our community.

FEBRUARY • • • •

KP Half Marathon is the talk of the town Chinese New Year Parade Operation Access – KP Day of Surgeries Garcia Heart finds a home

Thank you to all of our employee volunteers for your dedication and enthusiasm in 2005.

JUNE • Safety Fair + Employee Luncheon • LGBT Pride Parade • Farmers’ Market gets a fresh start

For questions or additional information on LMP, please contact one of the members of the KPSF Labor-Management Partnership Council.

Profile of success: The Labor Management Partnership

Mike Alexander – Sr. Vice President/Area Manager Bruce Blumberg – MD, Physician-in-Chief Erica Boddie – Sr. Receptionist/Chief Steward, SEIV-VHW West Julie Brown – LMP Council Facilitator Diane DeCorso – Medical Group Administrator Debbie Durham – Local 20 Union Rep Lisa Cox – Lab Tech 4/Shop Steward SEIV-VHW West Linda Groah – COO and Nurse Executive Michelle Guzman – Medical Assistant/Chief Steward, SEIV-VHW West Ida Hancox – Care Partner, Obgyn/Lead Shop Steward, SEIV-VHW West Chris Marinozzi – Respiratory Care Manager Donna Murdock – Admitting Clerk/Lead Shop Steward, SEIV-VHW West Marcia Nay – Executive Staff Specialist Kerry Paul – Director of Medicine Carolyn Perkins – Labor Liason, SEIV-VHW West Russell Reiff, MD – Physician Rep. John Spallone – Optometrist/Labor Liason, SEIV Local 535 Carol Sorgen – Director of Renal Transplant/Surgery Mike Sweet -- Area HR Business Partner Josh Wiser – Union Rep/Organizer for SEIV-VHW West Chi Kin Wai – Sr. Clinical Lab Scientist George Wong – Pharmacy Tech/Chief Steward, SEIV-VHW West Emily Wu – Pedi Social Worker/Steward SEIV Local 535

LMP work, Reiff is excited about a new component of the council. “We’re forming what we call the IRC (Issue Resolution Committee) to help departments and individuals resolve problems when the usual routines and pathways within their departments don’t seem to be working,” says Reiff. The members of IRC would review the issue collectively and offer recommendations on what to do about it. IRC would not replace standard grievance procedures, but offer a more collaborative model in the spirit of LMP. “I’m excited about it because it has teeth and is really concrete,” comments Reiff. One of the fundamental tenets of the LMP is the shared decision-making process within each department that is determined by the individuals most directly affected by the outcomes. Examples of these decisions include allocation of staffing hours, vacation distribution, and new equipment purchases. Each unique department at KPSF defines the LMP in their own way. Some departments that have enjoyed a great deal of LMP success include Ob/Gyn and Environmental Services (EVS), both having created a collaborative process of shared-decision making and engagement of all the staff. Ida Hancox, care partner, lead shop steward, Ob/Gyn Department, tries “to make the employees and management work as a team and create a better and safe environment for all of us at Kaiser to enjoy.” If 2005 was any indication, the coming year will see even more collaboration among all the parties involved in the LMP. As Reiff says of the council, “We will be most successful if we cease to exist and the LMP spirit and ethos are just insinuated into everything else that goes on at the medical center.”

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continued from page 1

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t’s vital to look back and take stock of the events that define each year, marking the significant dates that create the highlights of each month. There’s little doubt that KPSF is a busy place every day of the year and we have cause to celebrate the myriad events, festivals, and programs that make the medical center a thriving culture of shared professionalism.

Take a look at the timeline we’ve created to mark just a few of KPSF’s most memorable moments for 2005. To those individuals and departments who have strived to make KPSF the innovative, progressive, and enjoyable place to work that it is, we salute you and the many fruits of your labors. Take a trip down memory lane and pat yourself on the back. You deserve it.

SEPTEMBER • • • •

KPSF walks the walk for the United Negro College Fund Now & Zen Festival Quality Fair emphasizes our quality of care Stars & Heroes honors our best and brightest with island flair

JULY

NOVEMBER

• Colorful balloons emblazoned with the Thrive logo make KP’s team easy to spot at SF AIDS Walk

• National Diversity Conference is held in San Francisco • Employee Craft Fair • Workplace Safety Campaign gets into full swing

• Union Square is the site for KPSFsponsored SF Jazz Festival

AUGUST

and coming up in

• KPSF previews new Thrive commercials

DECEMBER

• Departments show us the meaning of service at annual Service Faire

• World AIDS Day + Red Ribbon Awards

• KPSF hosts the International Dragon Boat races on Treasure Island

• Annual Holiday Meal

OCTOBER • • • •

Flu clinics keep members healthy KPSF Health Fair focuses on Richmond district community We raise over $10,000 for American Heart Association Kids get creative for the Diversity Poster Contest

For Josephine Shew, Child Life Specialist, In-Patient Pediatrics Josephine was incredibly helpful with my daughter before and after her operation. I don’t think we would have been able to get my daughter to the hospital without her intervention. My daughter grabbed Josephine’s hand when she saw her after the operation. Thank you, Josephine!

For Dr. Ulrike Savage, Resident, Obstetrics My wife and I would like to thank you and your staff for the fabulous delivery of our baby daughter. Our plans for a natural delivery were unsuccessful. However, the dedication, professionalism, and caring of our caregivers was truly outstanding. Dr. Savage was amazing to watch and the nurses and even security were all there pulling for us in every way imaginable. We’re grateful for all your hard work and want you to know that what you do makes a difference.

For comments or story ideas, contact Public Affairs: San Francisco Medical Center Gateway Editorial Board Andy Briggs 3-2538 Scott Brown 3-3451

For Kay Jones, Member Outreach from a co-worker in Member Services For the past several months I have been working with a former member to address a complicated issue. I ran out of ideas for solving the problem when I went to Ms. Jones for help. Kay had the answer and contacts I needed and we resolved the member’s issue within a few days! I appreciate Kay’s help and knowledge. For Terry Benezra, Acupuncturist Ms. Teresa Benezra is my acupuncturist. I completed my four of eight scheduled treatments

Winnie Chan 3-2492 Mark Gaines 3-1628 Roger Gillespie 3-3122 Roberta Greenlee 3-4291 Elizabeth Ferber [email protected] Marcia Nay 3-4590 Lois Richtand 3-3501

with Terry yesterday. She combines efficiency with a very caring spirit. Simply stated, she does an excellent job. For Barbara Pugh, Pharmacy Clerk What a great employee! Barbara in the Main Pharmacy carefully tracked down my migraine Rx, which had been lost, and provided it to me quickly knowing I was ill with a migraine. For Dr. Thomas Addison, Cardiology I had a consultation appointment with Dr. Addison, who explained the conditions and also the treatments that are available. He recommended that I take a lung scan and a cardiac test. He was very thorough in explaining the procedures that I needed. He also saw me after everything was done. I didn’t worry as much. Thanks to him and Dr. Tapper my breathing is a lot better.

For comments and story ideas: contact a member of our Editorial Board or Jeffery Sterman, Public Affairs Director, at extension 3-2470. Please note: due to production timelines, it may take up to two months to get your story published.

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A SOLID REPUTATION

2005

KP aces ’s most watched industry report cards What’s in an acronym— HEDIS and CAHPS

® The New Yorker Collection, February 9, 2004, Glen Lelievre, from Cartoonbank.com. All Rights Reserved.

“Report cards are essentially a way to collect information and reassemble it for consumers,” said Madvig. The report cards all draw on the same sources of information, in fact. One is the quality and care outcomes measured in HEDIS, Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set, a small number of standardized measures that look at many clinical performance measures. All health plans in the country are scrutinized in consistent ways on those measures. The second set of measures is based on surveys of members’ satisfaction on CAHPS, Consumer Assessment of Health Plans. Both HEDIS and CAHPS are overseen by NCQA.

The night before the big meeting, Frank receives a visit from the PowerPoint Fairy.

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s KP the best health care organization in California? Yes, according to the five most watched health care industry report cards just released. These annual performance measurements are based on clinical outcomes for specific conditions and on data from member surveys, which are then issued by several organizations that track and rate quality of care. The measurements rate quality from two different perspectives: at the health plan level and at the medical group level. “Of the report cards, the two most important ones are the OPA report card, issued by a branch of the state government called the Office of the Patient Advocate, and the CCHRI report card, published by the California Cooperative Healthcare Reporting Initiative, a collaboration of health care purchasers, plans, and providers,” explained Mike Ralston, MD, regional director of Quality Implementation. Both report cards come out in September and both evaluate managed care programs in California. This year’s OPA report card showed KP’s high rankings were better than that of any other health plan. In fact, both Northern and Southern California got the top rating—three stars—in the area of member satisfaction, arguably one of the best reflections of how well KP is doing. The CCHRI report card awarded KP Northern California far and away more above average scores than any other health plan. “This is the basis on which we can claim to be the quality leader in California,” explained Ralston. In addition, the report card issued by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is the one used by U.S. News and World Report as the basis for its annual report. NCQA’s report came out on Oct. 3. It resulted in KP rating highest in California in the U.S. News rankings and as the only California plan in the top five for the Pacific Region. According to Philip Madvig, MD, associate executive director of TPMG responsible for quality improvement, KP Northern California has a proven pattern of excellence.

“We have dominated these measures for the last nine years,” he said. “One of the interesting things we are seeing as part of the effort to make the report cards more meaningful is lately there is an incentive for all providers to do better. As a result, our competitors have improved strikingly over the years—and we have, as well—but it is clear that KP can’t rest on its laurels.” Asked how important the report cards are to the public, Madvig explained that their influence is growing as health care becomes more expensive, and consumers pay more for it out of pocket. “Consumers need to know what the value is for their money,” he explained. “I see the report cards changing and becoming more relevant at the same time consumers are becoming more interested in them. Also, frankly, these measurements are all that we have right now. There is essentially no other publicly comparable basis to judge one health care organization from another.” This spike in public interest comes at just the right time—as KP Northern California is rating at the top. “Our high rankings reflect the hard work we’ve done over the past couple of years,” Ralston said. “They indicate improvements both in clinical care and in access to care. Over the past few years we’ve put a lot of effort into improving chronic conditions management and that’s reflected in our high ranking for the OPA measure called ‘Care for Living with Illness.’ We also learn what areas we need to focus on in the future.” “Public scrutiny of health care performance is here to stay,” Madvig explained. “Measurements are all going to evolve over time as there are more and more sophisticated reporting schemes and some consolidation of reporting. Consumers will then have a smaller number of things to rely upon. But as long as we pay attention to what those consumers want and need we will perform well on any report card.”

KP PEOPLE

Linda Groah wins prestigious national award

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n August, Linda Groah, RN, chief operating officer and nurse executive at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco, was awarded the 2005 Leadership Award for the state of California, a distinction given to her by Nursing Spectrum and NurseWeek magazines. In late October she earned an even more prestigious honor: Groah was awarded this year’s one and only National Nursing Leadership Award by these organizations.

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“My philosophy of leadership has been recognized—one of shared leadership, role modeling and stretching the staff to achieve more than they thought was possible,” said Groah. “I would hope that it would encourage other leaders to try the tactics associated with this model. It means accepting that our role is to manage things and lead people.” Linda Groah, RN, chief operating officer and nurse executive at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco

HERITAGE

QUALITY continued from page 2

The history of the KP logo

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e see it everywhere and all of the time, the three figures gathered around the sun image. It’s the well-known KP logo. But where did it come from—and what, literally, does it signify? A quick call to Tom Debley, director of KP Heritage Management, clears up any mystery. The logo, or “service mark,” has just hit the 20th anniversary of its rollout. It was created to replace the old logo that was a silhouette of a family. That logo wasn’t adopted across the organization, and it was sometimes changed to suit various regions. Furthermore, there was no copyright on the image, and over time other health care organizations’ logos looked a bit too duplicative. In 1984 work began on the new logo. Hundreds of sketched logos were narrowed down to four, and then to completion of the one we use today.

According to an employee newsletter article from that same year, the bar was set high for the new logo. It needed to convey “a feeling of quality and professionalism; concern and commitment to one another; the partnership we share in providing health care to the community; and a progressive feeling—somewhat futuristic.” That old article also completely explains the image we see everywhere today, from stationery to advertisements. “The sense of community is there in the three figures. They can represent the entities which make up our program, the families we serve, and the communities we’re located in. The radiating light transmits a sense of health and healing. The sunburst also reminds us of our roots in the desert, where Dr. Garfield started providing prepaid medical care more than 50 years ago.”

WORKPLACE SAFETY

Safety in numbers:

Five years of safety

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n the third quarter of 2005, KP Northern California recorded the lowest quarterly injury rate to date with only 9.62 injuries per 100 FTEs (full-time equivalents). Congratulations to all of our employees and physicians for integrating safety into their daily work routines. Your efforts have paid off. “Our progress for the third 20.00 quarter was very encouraging. We were down 26 percent 18.00 from the 2001 baseline. 16.00 Cumulatively for the year, we were at an injury rate of 14.00 12.26, making us halfway to 12.00 our target of 50 percent 10.00 reduction in injury rate by year-end,” said Mike Green, 8.00 managing director of Regional 6.00 Workplace Safety. “While we’ve had significant gains 4.00 this past quarter, including 2.00 reductions in patient handling injuries, we encourage staff to 0.00 Q2 Q3 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q4 Q2 Q1 Q3 Q4 Q2 remain mindful of safety at 01 02 02 02 03 04 05 01 01 01 02 03 03 03 04 04 04 05 05 work as they do at home.”

Be extra careful! Be aware that the winter months represent peak hours for health care workers and injuries tend to rise.

KP to launch major new genetics research initiative inform people about the research, and gauge their interest in taking part in it. In most cases it will mean nothing more complicated than answering some questions and giving a sample of blood or saliva. The information and samples DOR collects will help create a large database for researchers to study. They hope it will help them understand how combinations of genes are involved in causing specific diseases, how those genes work together, even what environmental factors, such as diet or lifestyle, may interact with genes to influence health. Understanding what causes a problem may help them figure out ways to stop it. “There is a lot of interest in genes and how they affect health,” said Schaefer. “But because of the size and diversity of the membership, the long tradition of research, and the support of members for that work, there are few, if any, places in the U.S. as excellent as Kaiser Permanente for carrying out this kind of work.” As with all research at KP, participation is purely voluntary, and will not cost members anything. Deciding not to take part will not affect their health care in any way, now or in the future. And of course all information gathered in the study will be strictly confidential. Nothing will become part of a member’s medical record without the member’s explicit consent; if members are also KP employees it will not become part of their work record. “Everyone who works at KP, regardless of their position or role, is part of a team whose goal is to help members lead healthier lives,” said Joe Selby, MD, MPH, director of the Division of Research. “The Research Program on Genes, Environment and Health is just the latest part of that team approach.” In the next few months employees will be hearing a lot more about the research project, and how they can become part of it. “It’s a long-term program but it has enormous potential,” said Selby. “With your help and participation we may be able to improve the future health of you, your family, your friends, and the world at large.”

Did you know Kaiser Permanente goes to extraordinary lengths to protect the confidentiality and security of any information gathered as part of a research program: • Every project begins with a look at the ethical, legal, and social implications of the research, the questions to be asked, and how the research will be implemented to make sure members’ rights are protected. • All information gathered is strictly confidential. • No information is released to researchers outside KP without the member’s written consent. • No information becomes part of the member’s medical or employment record. • Any samples sent to laboratories to be analyzed are anonymous, and all research information is kept in secure files. • All samples are identified not by a name, but by a coded number so scientists who see the information will not be able to link it to specific individuals. • Since it was established in 1961, the Division of Research has never had a security breach that exposed a member’s identity.

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It’s in the bag:

KP sponsors breast

cancer benefit KPSF Staff James Dykeman, Dolly Musey, Alexis Ronquillo, Pat Flores and Rita Neasley rub shoulders with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom at the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund’s (BCEF) “This Old Bag” benefit at the Clift Hotel on Oct. 7. Celebrities and designers collectively donated 200 of their personal bags for an auction that raised over $50,000 for BCEF. With the help of Kaiser Permanente’s sponsorship of “This Old Bag,” all proceeds will go directly to providing financial assistance to low-income women in San Francisco affected by breast cancer.

December 1 World AIDS Day | Red Ribbon Awards 13 Holiday Meal (2425 & 2238 Geary) 15 Holiday Meal (French)

KPSF in Chinatown

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edicated KPSF physicians and volunteers were on hand at the annual Chinatown Community Health Fair to provide over 700 Chinatown residents with blood pressure and body-mass index checks, as well as a wealth of general health information. By all reports, the health fair, which took place Oct. 15 at the Donaldina Cameron House, was well-received by the community.

Get a jumpstart on a healthy new year

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eeping KPSF employees happy and healthy is one of the many goals set by the Health Education Department. Following on the success of their 2005 wellness classes, Health Education will again be offering a host of programs and classes in the new year. Scott Brown, Health Education manager, comments, “Our education and health offerings are unique, they’re comprehensive, but there are so many of them, it can get confusing.” Pilates was a very popular offering last year and the class will continue along with free Friday yoga. “We lost our yoga instructor in mid-2005 and substituted Pilates, which people really liked,” notes Brown. With the popularity of the new yoga instructor, it won’t be hard to fill both classes. Other additions include five new programs related to infertility and adoption, an area that KP is seeking to develop at the medical center. Two of the most popular offerings are the infant sign language course and the personal Health Coach program. With a health coach, employees have direct access to a nutrition and fitness expert to help them create their own wellness plan. It’s an ideal way to incorporate balanced nutrition and regular exercise into a daily routine or train for one of the KP sponsored events, like the Run to the Far Side or the KP Half Marathon. Course catalogues will be available midDecember and the Health Education staff will be ready for registration at that time. Brown urges employees and members to contact his department, ask questions, and explore all the options available to them. To register for classes, please call (415) 833-9126.

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WORKPLACE SAFETY

How do you bring safety to work? Linda Groah, chief operating officer and nurse executive: When I’m sitting at the computer for extended periods of time, I get up and take a walk to one of the units or outside. When I’m on the steps, I always use the handrail. On days when I’ve used the computer for several hours, I sleep with hand and wrist splints to make sure my wrists stay in a neutral position all night.

Otis Wyatt, head aide, Environmental Services Department: To make sure all the employees I work with are safe while they’re performing their duties, I show them the right way to bend, squat, and lift. Always lift with straight legs and never from a bent position.

Carlton Clarke, receptionist, Emergency Department: I try to make sure the equipment is in the right place and that there’s no clutter in the hallway. There are so many things in the emergency room, that it’s very important to know how to use the equipment correctly.

Gladys Bennett, department secretary, Ob/Gyn Department: By discussing with the WPS group all the potential hazards and ways to injure ourselves, we come up with solutions and ideas to prevent incidents. I try to incorporate safety into everything I do at work.