High-quality, equitable care
Providing high-quality, culturally responsive care so our members can achieve the best possible health outcomes is central to our mission. We apply practices to identify and eliminate inequities — from how we deliver care and conduct research to how we design buildings.
Our health equity advisory council works to expand our identification of care disparities beyond our current quality measures.
Addressing disparities and inequities
Our model, which provides both care and coverage, and our coordinated approach to delivering care have made us a leader in addressing health disparities among our members and communities. Because we take care of nearly all our members’ needs and record all patient care interactions in our electronic health record system, we can identify differences in health outcomes among different groups. We were proud to be recognized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services with the inaugural Health Equity Award in 2018.
We continue to advance our work by making equity a critical part of how we measure and report on the quality of care we provide to our members. We invite other health organizations and policymakers to join us in this work. Together we can identify how to achieve the best possible health outcomes for all.
Advancing knowledge
Our research teams are at the forefront of examining how innovations in care delivery can address disparities and inequities. Our large, diverse, and long-term membership enables us to study groups who are often underrepresented in research.
Learn how our research contributes to a better understanding of how to address inequities.
"Equitable care does not simply mean making the same services available to all. It’s about providing the care needed to maximize each member’s health potential."
— Andrew Bindman, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer
“Health equity is in our DNA at Kaiser Permanente, starting with a willingness for self-reflection, then a commitment to change and improve.”
— Nancy Gin, MD, FACP, executive vice president and chief quality officer, The Permanente Federation
Expanding access
Equal access to care is an important part of our mission to provide high-quality care to everyone.
Telehealth can save time and costs associated with travel and time away from work or family. By broadening access to care and expanding our clinicians’ reach to underserved communities, telehealth can help bridge gaps for vulnerable people.
Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have used telehealth to access care, including many racial and ethnic groups and historically hard-to-reach populations. As virtual care becomes widely available, we’re working to make sure no one in our communities is left behind.
Through our community health grants, we provide more options for people who need help to get care.
Telehealth access grants
Funding for community organizations to increase virtual care services for people with low incomes
Transportation support
Partnerships with local groups that provide rides to vaccination sites and clinics
Convenient mobile clinics
Grants for community clinics that serve communities of color and people who don’t have insurance