May 19, 2025
Member praises 50 years of collaboration with care teams
Karen Hansen’s doctors and clinicians have partnered with her to customize care decisions through some serious health challenges.
Through coordinated care across several specialties, Karen Hansen’s doctors and care team successfully treated her without hospitalization.
Karen Hansen likes to make the most of every day. At 81 years old, she’s taken up piano lessons again. This time, she said, her instructor is keeping her glued to the piano stool by letting Hansen play whatever strikes her fancy.
She tries to stay healthy, diligently working out in her “living room gym.” It consists of a few dumbbells and other necessities arranged in front of an easy chair.
The routine has been disrupted before by health challenges, including melanoma, breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure. But as a Kaiser Permanente member in Colorado for more than 50 years, Hansen knows the value of coordinated care when it comes to treating these conditions.
Hansen became a Kaiser Permanente member in 1973 while working as an administrator for another health care organization. She already knew about and wanted to experience Kaiser Permanente’s integrated care delivery model. She has no regrets.
“I’m still alive because of Kaiser Permanente,” she said.
‘I’m kind of worried about that’
Karen’s most recent health challenge arose a few months ago.
On a phone visit with her personal doctor, Kathryn Huber, MD, Hansen brought up swelling in her legs. She wanted to know how worried she should be.
“I said, ‘I’m kind of worried about that. Maybe we should take a look at things,’” Dr. Huber said. “When I saw her, it looked like she was in heart failure exacerbation.”
In many cases, a heart failure patient like Hansen would be sent to the hospital for treatment because their vital signs require very close monitoring, Dr. Huber said. But she talked with Hansen about her treatment options and decided her condition could be managed at home.
“There were many times we picked up the phone and talked through symptoms she was experiencing, or she sent messages through kp.org to update the team,” Dr. Huber said. “Fortunately, we have a whole team in clinic to look out for our patients. So, there was always someone available to answer questions and step in, if needed.”
Coordinated treatment plan prevents hospitalization
Dr. Huber has coordinated care with Hansen’s neurologist, cardiologist, and other specialists for years, but the collaboration reached a new level with Hansen’s heart failure episode. She worked with Hansen’s cardiologist to schedule echocardiograms and develop a medication treatment plan together.
“We have had to walk a fine line of managing her heart failure symptoms, optimizing medications, and trying to limit the risk of side effects with various medications,” Dr. Huber said.
Dr. Huber and her colleagues also worked with the sleep clinic team to reevaluate Hansen’s sleep apnea so it wouldn’t interfere with treatment.
“This required multiple check-ins and follow-ups,” Dr. Huber said.
For months, Hansen had appointments with Dr. Huber at least every other week at Kaiser Permanente Skyline Medical Offices. Nurses also called Hansen regularly to check on how she was doing.
“We were able to drastically improve her symptoms and keep her out of the hospital,” Dr. Huber said.
Following the team’s hard work, Hansen was back to playing her own tune at her piano lessons.
Doctors who listen
Hansen said she finds value in the teamwork. And she also feels valued.
“Kaiser Permanente has been fabulous for me,” Hansen said. “They listen, and they hear what I’m saying.”
That experience has been consistent, whether it was for her multiple sclerosis or her breast cancer, which is now in remission, Hansen said.
“There’s no 2 ways around it. I’ve consistently had really good doctors,” Hansen said.
Learn more about Kaiser Permanente’s connected care model.
