The Kaiser Permanente Division of Research conducts, publishes, and disseminates epidemiologic and health services research to improve the health and medical care of Kaiser Permanente members and society at large. We seek to understand the determinants of illness and well-being and to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care. DOR’s 600-plus staff is currently working on more than 580 epidemiological and health services research projects. Read our story or watch our video of how it all began and learn even more from our interactive anniversary timeline.

Patients more likely to start treatment for alcohol problems during early pandemic

A Kaiser Permanente study finds more patients starting treatment for an alcohol problem in the pandemic, during a transition to telehealth, suggesting some may be more comfortable with a video or phone visit.
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5 Questions for . . . Monique Hedderson

Kaiser Permanente Division of Research investigator Monique Hedderson was going to be a doctor, but a college job introduced her to epidemiology and she never turned back.
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Cannabis legalization may have made use easier in pregnancy

California’s legalization of cannabis for adult-use may have reduced the stigma of using cannabis products during pregnancy and made them easier to obtain, according to new research from Kaiser Permanente investigators.
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Seeking the best tests for babies with fever

New Kaiser Permanente research suggests a national clinical guideline on evaluating infant fever may not be ideal in all health care settings.
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Smoking increases risk of bladder cancer recurrence

Kaiser Permanente "Be-Well" study finds long-term history of smoking cigarettes increases the risk of a cancer recurrence in people who have been treated for bladder cancer.
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5 Questions for . . . Mary Reed

Longtime DOR investigator Mary Reed didn't expect to go into research, but she has built an important niche studying health information technology's impact on health care at Kaiser Permanente.
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Blood clots in hospitalized patients tied to worse outcomes

A Kaiser Permanente study found the incidence of blood clots in hospitalized patients and those recently discharged has slowly been increasing over time.
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Podcast: Improving lung cancer survival

In this episode of KP Research Radio, Lori Sakoda, PhD, a research scientist at the Division of Research, and Jeff Velotta, MD, a thoracic surgeon with The Permanente Medical Group, discuss early lung cancer detection, ways to promote equitable lung cancer care, and Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s regionalized lung cancer care program.
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American Heart Association honors Kaiser Permanente researcher with award for best publication

Research scientist Erica Gunderson received the Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Research Goes Red® Award for Best Scientific Publication on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke in Women.
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Helping patients with addiction tackle their health needs

Teaching patients who are in addiction treatment to work with their primary care medical team on both mental and physical health concerns resulted in long-term benefits over 5 years, including more primary care use and fewer emergency department visits, Kaiser Permanente researchers have found.
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