The Case for Unit-Based Teams: A Model for Front-line Engagement and Performance Improvement.

Unit-based teams (UBTs)-defined as natural work groups of physicians, managers, and frontline staff who work collaboratively to solve problems, improve performance, and enhance quality-were established by the 2005 national agreement between Kaiser Permanente (KP) and the Coalition of KP Unions. They use established performance-improvement techniques and employee-engagement principles (including social-movement theory) to achieve clinical and operational goals. UBT members identify performance gaps and opportunities within their purview-issues they can address in the course of the day-to-day work, such as workflow or process improvement.

Results of the First National Kaiser Permanente Continuing Medical Education Needs Assessment Survey.

Context: Needs assessment is an important part of planning effective continuing medical education (CME) programs. The Kaiser Permanente National CME Committee (KPNCME) was formed in 1998 to accredit and provide oversight and assistance to Kaiser Permanente (KP) national CME programs and to provide expertise on an as-needed basis to regional and local KP CME efforts.

Objective: To develop, distribute, and analyze a CME needs assessment survey of Permanente physicians.