Kaiser says HealthConnect is the largest private sector EHR system in the world. The project cost $4 billion over 10 years, and upgrades will be made to the system over time.
Kaiser spokesperson Marc Brown said HealthConnect lets physicians, nurses and other health care providers access members’ EHRs at any of Kaiser’s facilities.
In addition, Kaiser says that about three million members also use a Web-based tool called My Health Manager that is included within HealthConnect. My Health Manager lets Kaiser members securely e-mail their physicians and access personal health information online (Avalos, Oakland Tribune, 3/2).
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is an integrated managed care organization, based in Oakland, California, United States, founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry Kaiser and physician Sidney Garfield. Kaiser Permanente is a consortium of three distinct groups of entities: the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and its regional operating subsidiaries, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, and the autonomous regional Permanente Medical Groups. As of 2006, Kaiser Permanente operates in nine states and the District of Columbia, and is the largest managed care organization in the United States.