Within Kaiser Permanente
At Kaiser Permanente, the fight to end health disparities is a key part of our social mission and integrated into our continuum of care. In partnership with various organizations, we are committed to providing equitable care to our members and targeting resources to areas of need in the communities we serve.
Our vision
Kaiser Permanente will be a leader in identifying, measuring, and eliminating disparities in health and health care. We will do this by providing equitable access and care to our members. We will target resources to areas of need in the communities we serve, invest in important and needed research into the entire construct of disparities, and identify and implement strategies and policies that support equity in health nationwide, including universal health coverage.
Centers of Excellence in Culturally Competent Care
The Centers of Excellence in Culturally Competent Care are hallmark models of health care delivery to Kaiser Permanente's diverse membership. Our nine Centers across the country show how trained staff respectfully integrate issues of culture, race, and ethnicity during a member's visit, thereby contributing to the reduction of racial and ethnic health disparities.
Learn more about Centers of Excellence in Culturally Competent Care.
Qualified Bilingual Staff Model
Faced with an increasing demand for on-site qualified health care interpreters, Kaiser Permanente designed and implemented the Qualified Bilingual Staff (QBS) Model. The goal of the QBS Model is to identify, educate, and monitor an internal workforce of interpreters as a key strategy to improve health outcomes and reduce health care disparities.
Learn more about the Qualified Bilingual Staff Model.
Health Care Interpreter Certificate Program
Kaiser Permanente successfully established the Health Care Interpreter Certificate Program, a college-level training program designed to provide quality accreditation standards for interpreters serving our members.
Learn more about the Health Care Interpreter Certificate Program.
Executive Sponsors of the Kaiser Permanente Health Disparities Program
Bernard Tyson, executive vice president, National Health Plan and Hospital Operations
Raymond Baxter, Ph.D., senior vice president, National Community Benefit, Research & Health Policy
Ronald Knox, senior vice president and chief diversity officer
Ronald Copeland, MD, president and medical director—Ohio Region; chair National Diversity Council
Joe Selby, MD, MPH, director, Northern California Division of Research
