All 16 Kaiser Permanente medical centers in Southern California have been nationally recognized as being part of an “Age-Friendly Health System — Committed to Care Excellence” that meets the health care needs of older adults.
The designation was given by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the John A. Hartford Foundation, in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States.
Kaiser Permanente Southern California is headquartered in Pasadena, at 393 E. Walnut St., and the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine is also located in the city.
According to a Kaiser Permanente news release, the recognition underscores Pasadena-based Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s commitment to advancing equity, excellence and empathy for older adults by providing high-quality and compassionate care that meets their needs.
The recognition arrives as the older population grows. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the country’s population aged 65 and older is projected to nearly double, from 43.1 million in 2012 to an estimated 83.7 million by 2050.
The designation was based on Kaiser Permanente Southern California meeting the “4Ms” Framework of an Age-Friendly Health System. The organization had to demonstrate through data that patients 65 years and older had all of the 4M elements applied in their inpatient stay for two quarters at every Kaiser Permanente hospital in Southern California.
The 4Ms Framework consists of What Matters — knowing and aligning care with each older adult’s specific health outcome goals and care preferences; Medication — using age-friendly medication, when necessary, that doesn’t interfere with “What Matters” to the older adult, mobility or mentation across settings of care; Mentation — preventing, identifying, treating and managing dementia, depression and delirium across settings of care; and Mobility — ensuring that older adults move safely every day in order to maintain function and do “What Matters.”
“Being recognized as an Age-Friendly Health System across all 16 of our hospitals in Southern California medical centers reflects our unwavering commitment to providing older senior adults with care that’s personalized, evidence-based and centered on what matters most to them,” said Michelle Gaskill-Hames, regional president, Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Hawaii.
“As our communities continue to age, we’re proud to ensure that every adult receives compassionate, high-quality care that supports their health, independence and well-being. This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our physicians, nurses and care teams who bring that commitment to life every day.”
Dr. Ramin Davidoff, executive medical director and chair of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, and chair and CEO of the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, echoed similar sentiments.
“This honor reflects our firm commitment and dedication to providing high-quality, evidence-based care for older adults,” he said. “By consistently focusing on important priorities to older adults such as ‘What Matters,’ ‘Medication,’ ‘Cognitive Function’ and ‘Mobility,’ we deliver personalized and age-friendly care that promotes safety, independence and well-being.”
Kaiser Permanente Southern California, working with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group’s more than 8,000 physicians, provides care for roughly 4.8 million members across its 16 medical centers. The Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative is administered by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, which recognizes hospitals and practices that show alignment with the 4Ms Framework.
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