Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is a leading integrated managed care consortium in the United States, renowned for its comprehensive approach to healthcare delivery. Established in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney R. Garfield, the organization was initially created to provide medical services to workers in Kaiser's shipyards and steel mills.

Over time, it expanded its services to the general public, evolving into a prominent healthcare provider.

Organizational Structure

Operating as a not-for-profit entity, Kaiser Permanente comprises three interdependent organizations:

• Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.: Offers a range of health insurance plans to individuals, families, and businesses.
• Kaiser Foundation Hospitals: Manages a network of hospitals and outpatient facilities.
• The Permanente Medical Groups: Physician-led groups responsible for providing medical care to members.

This integrated structure enables seamless coordination between insurance coverage and healthcare services, fostering a holistic approach to patient care.

Membership and Scale

As of 2024, Kaiser Permanente serves approximately 12.6 million members across eight states and the District of Columbia, including California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington.

The organization operates 40 hospitals and 614 medical offices, employing over 223,000 individuals, including more than 73,000 nurses and 24,000 physicians.

Headquarters and Locations

Kaiser Permanente is headquartered in Oakland, California, with a significant presence in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In San Francisco, the organization operates multiple medical offices and facilities, providing a wide range of healthcare services to the local community.

Additional locations include:

• Los Angeles, CA
• Orange, CA
• Inglewood, CA
• Kent, WA
• San Francisco, CA
• Compton, CA
• Honolulu, HI
• Fontana, CA
• Torrance, CA
• Silver Spring, MD
• Vancouver, WA
• Lancaster, CA
• Anaheim, CA
• Clackamas, OR
• Sacramento, CA
• San Ramon, CA
• Glendale, CA
• Hawthorne, CA

Healthcare Model and Impact

The organization is committed to a value-based healthcare model that emphasizes prevention and data-driven practices to improve health outcomes and reduce costs.

This approach has led to significant health benefits for its members, such as a 33% lower likelihood of premature death from heart disease compared to the general population, attributed to effective screenings and early interventions.

Recognition and Initiatives

Kaiser Permanente's integrated care model has garnered recognition, being ranked the #1 health plan in America by Insure.com for five consecutive years as of March 2025.

In addition to its healthcare services, Kaiser Permanente is actively involved in addressing social determinants of health.

The organization has launched initiatives like Thrive Local, a social-health network designed to integrate community referrals into the healthcare system, and invested $200 million to address housing affordability and homelessness.