Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) covers many fields, but much of what we do is health services research. That means we’re studying what really works—and what doesn't—in health care, with a focus on achieving aims including better population health, improved patient experience, and lower health care costs.
“Reducing the growth in health care spending requires improving the quality and timeliness of care and decreasing low-value care, which doesn’t improve health and may actually be harmful,” says Robert Penfold, PhD, an associate investigator at KPWHRI.
It all starts with Kaiser Permanente Washington’s learning health system, where research and practice work side by side to inform and improve each other. Researchers benefit from Kaiser Permanente Washington’s comprehensive capture of rich information about patients’ health, use of health care, and costs. Clinical leaders benefit from rigorous evaluations of novel innovations in care delivery and provider reimbursement.
“Together, we are learning what it takes to quickly translate what works into our health system—and track the long-term effects on outcomes that matter to patients, clinicians, and policymakers,” says David Arterburn, MD, MPH, a senior investigator. Here are just a few examples:
The impact of our health services research is extensive. Being part of the Kaiser Permanente system, along with our membership in the Health Care Systems Research Network, the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium, and other national and international collaborations increases the size and diversity of our study populations. These connections also help KPWHRI shape care and policy beyond the Kaiser Permanente Washington system.
Chen Y, Ji X, Xiao H, Unger JM, Cai Y, Mao Z, Yeung K. Impact of the pilot volume-based drug purchasing policy in China: interrupted time-series analysis with controls. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Dec 22;12:804237. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.804237. eCollection 2021. PubMed
Schuttner L, Hockett Sherlock S, Simons CE, Johnson NL, Wirtz E, Ralston JD, Rosland AM, Nelson K, Sayre G. My goals are not their goals: barriers and facilitators to delivery of patient-centered care for patients with multimorbidity. J Gen Intern Med. 2022 May 23:1-8. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07533-1. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Lee JK, Lam AY, Jensen CD, Marks AR, Badalov J, Layefsky E, Kao K, Ho NJ, Schottinger JE, Ghai NR, Carlson CM, Halm EA, Green B, Li D, Corley DA, Levin TR. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fecal immunochemical testing, colonoscopy services, and colorectal neoplasia detection in a large United States community-based population. Gastroenterology. 2022 May 14:S0016-5085(22)00503-0. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.05.014. PubMed
Tuzzio L, Wellman RD, De Marchis EH, Gottlieb LM, Walsh-Bailey C, Jones SMW, Nau CL, Steiner JF, Banegas MP, Sharp AL, Derus A, Lewis CC. Social risk factors and desire for assistance among patients receiving subsidized health care insurance in a us-based integrated delivery system. Ann Fam Med. 2022 Mar-Apr;20(2):137-144. doi: 10.1370/afm.2774. PubMed
Smith DH, O’Keefe-Rosetti M, Leo MC, Mayhew M, Benes L, Bonifay A, Deyo RA, Elder CR, Keefe FJ, McMullen C, Owen-Smith A, Trinacty CM, Vollmer WM, DeBar L. Economic evaluation: a randomized pragmatic trial of a primary care-based cognitive behavioral intervention for adults receiving long-term opioids for chronic pain. Med Care. 2022 Mar 30. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001713. Online ahead of print. PubMed
![]() Michael L. Parchman, MD, MPHSenior Investigator, ACT Center |
![]() David E. Arterburn, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
![]() Rita Mangione-Smith, MD, MPHExecutive Director and Senior Investigator, KPWHRI; Vice President for Research and Health Care Innovation, Kaiser Permanente Washington |
![]() Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH, MACPSenior Investigator and former Executive Director, KPWHRI; Former Vice President for Research and Health Care Innovation, KPWA |
![]() Robert Penfold, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() James D. Ralston, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
![]() Katie Coleman, MSPHDirector, Collaborative Science; Director, ACT Center |
![]() Katharine A. Bradley, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
![]() Paula Lozano, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
![]() Jessica Chubak, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Karen Wernli, PhDAssociate Investigator |
![]() Erin J. Bowles, MPHManager, Collaborative Science |
![]() Nora Henrikson, PhD, MPHAssociate Investigator |
![]() Aruna Kamineni, PhD, MPHAssistant Investigator |
![]() Gwen Lapham, PhD, MPH, MSWAssistant Investigator |
![]() Melissa L. Anderson, MSSenior Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Eric Johnson, MSSenior Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Lorella Palazzo, PhDCollaborative Scientist |
![]() Paula R. Blasi, MPHCollaborative Scientist |
![]() Cara C. Lewis, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Yates Coley, PhDAssistant Biostatistics Investigator |
![]() Joseph E. Glass, PhD, MSWAssociate Investigator |
![]() Kai Yeung, PharmD, PhDAssistant Investigator |
![]() Lynn DeBar, PhDSenior Investigator |
![]() Paige D. Wartko, PhD, MPHCollaborative Scientist |
![]() Julia J. Smith, MSSenior Collaborative Biostatistician |
![]() Leah K. Hamilton, PhDCollaborative Scientist |
![]() Chloe Krakauer, PhDCollaborative Biostatistician II |
Douglas A. Conrad, PhD, MBA, MHA
Health Services and Dental Public Health Sciences
Center for Health Management Research
Finance and Business Economics
University of Washington (UW)
David Grembowski, PhD
Health Services and Dental Public Health Sciences
Adjunct Professor, Sociology, UW
Larry Kessler, ScD
UW Department of Health Services
Emily Williams, PhD, MPH
UW Department of Health Services; VA Health Services Research & Development Center of Excellence