‘KP in the Community’ annual report highlights impact across Northern California.

Last year Kaiser Permanente Northern California contributed more than $924 million in programs and services benefiting each of the communities surrounding its 21 NCAL hospitals — putting it on par with some of the largest philanthropic organizations in the United States. Even better, thanks to Kaiser Permanente’s unique approach, those investments will be making a difference for generations to come.

You can find details of the investments and stories that illustrate the impacts they have in the newly released Kaiser Permanente in the Community: 2014 Annual Report.

Leading the Way in Community Health

“Our Community Benefit and Community Relations teams are very intentional about our investments and sponsorships,” said Sherry Novick, Community Benefit managing director for NCAL. “Our goal is to maximize the unique assets of our integrated health care system so that we make a lasting impact on community health.”

In 2014, Kaiser Permanente NCAL provided nearly $61 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and public agencies. When possible grants are paired with the organization’s own clinical programs, health research, and expertise found in departments ranging from National Facilities Services to Human Resources and Corporate Communications to Information Technology. This approach has been successful in supporting the work of community organizations and leading the way for innovative health solutions that specifically meet the needs of Northern California and are adopted in other Kaiser Permanente geographic regions.

“Our Healthy Eating Active Living program that was developed a decade ago was at the forefront of the many obesity prevention programs that have taken hold in the last few years, and it brought us to the table as national campaigns like the First Lady’s Let’s Move initiative were being created,” said Novick. “Another example is our Preventing Heart Attacks and Strokes Everyday clinical program that Kaiser Permanente developed for use by our own members, and now shares in community settings across California and parts of Colorado.”

Every Community Is Unique

Guided by Community Health Needs Assessments that are conducted by each of the region’s hospitals every three years, Community Benefit investments focus on meeting the most pressing, distinct needs in each community. For example, in the East Bay and Fresno where there are high rates of asthma, Kaiser Permanente supports asthma programs for low-income people. In South Sacramento and the South Bay, violence prevention is a priority.

“Through the needs assessments, we work with dozens of other organizations to analyze what is really impacting health in a community and what resources are already there to help meet those needs,” said Dana Williamson, project manager in NCAL Community Benefit.

Williamson said that access to care and obesity prevention are a priority for all service areas as well as for regional Community Benefit.

“As a health organization with its beginnings in prevention and team-based care, these are two areas where we can contribute in ways that other organizations can’t,” Williamson said. “It just makes sense that these would be focus areas for us.”

To learn more about the organization’s 2014 community investments, visit: kp.org/communitybenefit/ncal/2014report.

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