J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Member Health Insurance Plan Study was recently conducted. For the past two years in a row, the members of Kaiser Permanente of Georgia have rated the health plan of the organization with the highest level of member satisfaction in the South Atlantic Region, which is made up of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

Kaiser Permanente of GA Rating System

On a point scale of one to a thousand, Kaiser Permanente of Georgia earned a total of seven hundred forty-seven points, which is forty-seven points higher than the average in the South Atlantic Region. The organization received the highest rank in Information and Communication, Coverage and Benefits, Customer Service and Statements.

The president of Kaiser Permanente of Georgia, Peter Andruszkiewicz said, “We are very pleased that our focus on providing coordinated, high quality health care delivered with exceptional customer service continues to be recognized by our members.” He also said, “It is particularly meaningful to us that the J.D. Power rankings are a measure of member satisfaction relative to all other health plans and insurers.”

The executive medical director for Kaiser Permanente of Georgia, Rob Schreiner, MD said, “Kaiser Permanente’s integrated model puts our members at the center of all that we do.” He added, “It enables us to better coordinate care to maintain their health and also care for them when they are ill.”

The health plan services of Kaiser Permanente of Georgia are complemented by the delivery of health care over the phone, online or in person. With web tools that are simple to use, the members of the organization are able to access valuable information, communication tools and medical records. Registered members are able to go online to take care of several important tasks, such as ordering prescription refills or scheduling appointments. In addition, members also have 24/7 access to eligibility and benefit information, lab results and their children’s immunization records.

Source

http://xnet.kp.org/newscenter/pressreleases/ga/2011/032211gajdpower.html

photo credit: Genista

Acupuncture was once relegated to the pseudo-science realm, but a recent discovery final provides proof that it actually provides health benefits.

Until recently, acupuncture was a treatment method dumped in the “pseudo-science” basket by many. Those who had experienced acupuncture first hand often held the practice in high regard, whilst medical professionals and pharmaceutical giants were somewhat hesitant to lend their support to the activity.

That view might be about to change however, with the May 2010 release of a report analyzing the molecular effects of acupuncture on in the online journal: Nature Neuroscience.

A team lead by neuroscientist Maiken Nedergaard, M.D., D.M.Sc, has, for the first time, shown a direct link between acupuncture and the levels of adenosine (a naturally occurring compound) in the body.

The Proven Benefits of Acupuncture

Following a single acupuncture session, levels of adenosine were seen to rise significantly, meaning that a patient could expect a number positive health benefits following such a treatment.

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