Kaiser Permanente

The Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group is the nation's leading group of doctors. Our award-winning physicians care exclusively for patients insured by Kaiser Foundation Health Plan. Our 1,800+ doctors make us one of the largest, integrated medical groups in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Every year more than half a million people come to us for care. Care from doctors at Kaiser Permanente results in better health outcomes, because unlike other health systems in the United States: • We are built and led by physicians. • Our doctors earn competitive salaries, instead of fees for each individual service they perform. • We are focused on our patients' long-term health, which means we focus on preventing, diagnosing and treating disease most effectively. • Our patient-centered approach to care enables our top doctors and researchers to collaborate on groundbreaking, individualized treatment plans. • We are constantly improving the patient experience and access to care because we measure satisfaction, wait times, and health outcomes at every step of the patient journey. • Our board-certified physicians are experts across more than 60 specialties and work together, armed with the nation's most comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) so your entire team of doctors is always up to date with a full picture of your health. How We Work Together • Permanente Medicine is led by physicians who work independently from the Kaiser Foundation insurance company. The Kaiser insurance company pays the Permanente Medical Group upfront to take care of patients, and then leaves medical decisions to the doctors. Unlike most doctors in the United States healthcare system, Permanente doctors never need to wait for insurance company authorizations before sending patients for tests or beginning treatment plans. How We Work for Our Patients • Most doctors in the United States are reimbursed by insurance companies for each treatment they provide. This model often traps the doctors in a tug of war between personal financial gain and what's in the best interest of the patient; the more the doctor 'does' to a patient, whether necessary or unnecessary, the more money the doctor receives. • Our physicians are prepaid for each patient they care for. In our system, doctors are under no pressure to do too much or too little. If a patient doesn't need surgery, our doctors will not recommend surgery. If a patient has a medical issue they would like to address with their doctor over email or by phone, the physician will do so. In most of the United States healthcare system, doctors are financially pressured to ask the patients to come in for an office visit, even if the issue could be handled by phone or email. Why We Offer the Best Medicine • We are designed to help patients live their healthiest possible lives. Doctors at Kaiser Permanente excel at delivering the best care to patients, and the results are clear: awards from national quality rating organizations, high patient satisfaction scores and, most importantly, better outcomes for patients that result in healthier, longer lives. How we provide care • Our system is designed so every decision is solely based on the best interest of each patient. We use data science and the latest medicine, supported by our team of clinical researchers, to drive superior experiences and health outcomes for our patients. As a result, we proudly deliver the highest-quality medical care in the nation. Our values • Unlike other health systems, our world-class doctors—not administrators—make decisions at Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group. • Our patients are at the center of everything we do. We recruit the best doctors in the nation and use research and innovation to provide you with the care you need, when you need it..