Embracing and excelling in our new normal

We are witnessing a period of historic change in the field of medicine. Health news headlines are filled with acquisitions, tech giants have a growing presence in the field, and consumer demand is driving innovation at an unprecedented clip.

The level of transformation set to take place in health care over the next 5 years will perhaps stand as the most profound in the last century. To keep up, cohesion and collaboration will be key when it comes to caring for consumers and patients. This means expanding virtual offerings, improving at-home care, making referrals easier across all specialties, and streamlining systems so individuals can get what they need when they need it.

Kaiser Permanente’s mission-driven approach and integrated system continue to be a guiding light when it comes to taking the right steps and leading amid unprecedented change and challenge. Permanente physicians are delivering on the promise of high-quality, affordable care at an accelerated pace, with humility and purpose.

In recognition of this industry-leading work, third parties such as U.S. News & World Report named Kaiser Permanente medical centers as “highest performing” in their 2021-2022 Best Hospitals rankings and we received numerous accolades for patient safety during the pandemic.

Setting the pace for adaptation and innovation

We are seeing new entrants and well-funded organizations pivot into health care using many of the same terms and priorities that Kaiser Permanente has leveraged for decades. This is validation and motivation to further accelerate our own progress, innovation, and boldness without losing sight that practicing Permanente Medicine means providing the best care possible for all our members and the communities we serve.

Technology can be one of our greatest allies on this front. By nurturing the relationship between technology and medicine, we can bring the greatest level of intelligence to the table in how we operate. We’ve already seen ways in which data and analytics can be leveraged to more accurately track the course of this pandemic. There is almost unlimited potential when it comes to how this level of innovation can improve health care in our country moving forward.

Permanente leaders are answering difficult questions that will shape the future of medicine. They are sharing strategies for integrating advanced technology such as augmented intelligence into programs and figuring out how changes to care spurred by COVID-19 can better serve patients in the long term. It’s critical that we continue to address these questions and set the pace for innovation during this period of rapid evolution in health care.

Through these changes, it’s also paramount for Kaiser Permanente to ensure no individual or group of people gets left behind. The growing economic divide in this country makes it more important than ever for our organization to deliver on its promise of providing exceptional, affordable, and equitable care for everyone in all the communities we serve. This means making doing the right thing the easiest thing, expanding access so people can get the support they need, and sharing facts backed by science so that members can make informed decisions about their well-being.

Self-care for sustainability

Perhaps most vital to ensuring that Kaiser Permanente remains at the forefront of building a blueprint for the future of health care is supporting the well-being of our people. The rapid evolution taking place in our industry is exciting, but also demanding. We can only sprint for so long before needing to take a rest and recover.

Across our organization, we are working to build in support so physicians, clinicians, nurses, medical teams, and employees can perform their best. This includes steps such as rotating leaders in national command centers so they can avoid burnout and encouraging staff to use their vacation days to recharge. To do this successfully, we also need to foster an environment where it’s okay to ask for help.

Even the best athletes in the world know their limits. Star players know to take a breather when they are exhausted or hurt for the greater good of their team. Similarly, the best coaches understand their players as people and what they need off the field of play to be successful. We see how prioritizing wellness translates into real-life success with examples such as 13-time NBA champion Phil Jackson teaching mindfulness and four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles prioritizing and advocating for mental health over performance.

The same logic holds true for employees and organizational leaders. Physicians, clinicians, nurses, medical teams, and administrative staff should feel that they have permission to take time off for self-care. On the other side of the coin, executives and managers need to look out for opportunities to offer positive feedback and give their teams breaks. To effectively support the areas we serve, we must also care for ourselves.

When we prioritize empathy and understanding in the workplace, everyone wins. It’s this approach that will allow Kaiser Permanente and its people to successfully navigate a new normal and deliver on the promise of Permanente Medicine.