Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States continues to lead the region, and nation, in delivering high quality health care to our members. The 2017-2018 National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) recognizes KPMAS for the lowest rate of emergency department visits per 1,000 members compared to other health plans in the Mid-Atlantic region, and the lowest rate of emergency department visits per 1,000 members compared to other Kaiser Permanente regions. (KPMAS was rated second nationally to Utah Humana.)
One of the innovative ways KPMAS provides the right care, in the right place, at the right time is through our Clinical Decision Units (CDU) which treat members requiring acute care and observation for up to 24 hours. Since the introduction of these CDUs in 2011, the region has seen a dramatic decline in emergency department and hospital utilization. The CDU model expands beyond the traditional urgent care setting, as it includes 24/7 ancillary services (laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, specialty services) which allow providers to observe members with higher acuity conditions requiring more advanced testing. The CDUs function as part of the five multi-specialty hubs in the region, and logged over 230,000 collective visits last year (2016).