
Kaiser Permanente is an American integrated managed care consortium founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney R. Garfield. Initially, the organization provided medical services at Kaiser's shipyards, steel mills, and other facilities before opening to the general public. As of 2024, Kaiser Permanente serves eight states and the District of Columbia, claiming the title of the largest managed care organization in the United States. The consortium is comprised of three interdependent entities: the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and its regional subsidiaries, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, and the regional Permanente Medical Groups. With a focus on high-quality and compassionate care, 29 Kaiser Permanente hospitals were recognized in Newsweek's 2025 list of America's Best Maternity Hospitals. The organization serves over 12 million members across 35 medical centers and 431 medical offices, with each entity having its own management and governance structure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of medical centers | 35 |
| Number of medical offices | 431 |
| Number of members served | 12.6 million |
| Number of Newsweek's Best Maternity Hospitals in 2025 | 29 |
| Areas served | California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, District of Columbia |
| Headquarters | Oakland, California |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Kaiser Permanente has 35 medical centres and 431 medical offices across the US
- Newsweek recognised 29 Kaiser hospitals as America's Best Maternity Hospitals in 2025
- Kaiser Permanente's history in Washington dates back to the late 1930s
- Kaiser Permanente Northwest was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon
- Kaiser Permanente serves more than 12 million members across eight states and the District of Columbia

Kaiser Permanente has 35 medical centres and 431 medical offices across the US
Kaiser Permanente is an American integrated managed care consortium founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney R. Garfield. It is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit health plans, serving 12.6 million members. The organisation was initially established to provide medical services at Kaiser's shipyards, steel mills and other facilities, before being opened to the public.
Kaiser Permanente has expanded significantly since its foundation and now has a broad reach across the US. As of 2024, the consortium serves eight states (California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia and Washington), as well as the District of Columbia. This extensive network includes 35 medical centres and 431 medical offices, catering to more than 9 million members.
The consortium operates as a network of interdependent entities, including the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and its regional subsidiaries, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, and regional Permanente Medical Groups. Each entity has its own management and governance structure, with all structures cooperating closely. The Permanente Medical Groups are responsible for continuously refining medical practices to ensure efficient and effective care delivery.
Kaiser Permanente's history is deeply rooted in providing healthcare to workers and their families. This tradition began with physicians serving workers during the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam in northeastern Washington in the late 1930s and continued during World War II at the Kaiser Shipyards in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. Today, Kaiser Permanente maintains a strong presence in these regions, with medical centres and offices located across Washington, Oregon, and Vancouver.
The consortium has also expanded into other states, offering comprehensive healthcare services through its extensive network of medical centres and offices. This expansion has solidified Kaiser Permanente's position as one of the leading healthcare providers in the US, known for its high-quality and compassionate care.
US Surgical Hospitals: Exploring Their Number and Significance
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Newsweek recognised 29 Kaiser hospitals as America's Best Maternity Hospitals in 2025
In 2025, Newsweek recognised 29 Kaiser Permanente hospitals as America's Best Maternity Hospitals. This recognition was based on a rigorous evaluation process that incorporated nationwide online surveys of healthcare professionals and hospital managers, patient experience surveys, and hospital quality metrics. The hospitals were recognised for their exceptional care throughout pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period.
Kaiser Permanente is an American integrated managed care consortium founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney R. Garfield. It is headquartered in Oakland, California, and serves eight states, including California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia. With 35 medical centres and 431 medical offices across the country, Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit health plans, serving 12.6 million members.
The recognition by Newsweek is a testament to Kaiser Permanente's high-quality maternity care, which includes comprehensive and respectful care, great service, excellent communication, and personalised care. The hospitals were also recognised for their commitment to maternal and child health, with higher rates of exclusive breast milk feeding among their members.
In addition to its maternity care, Kaiser Permanente has been recognised for its overall quality of care, receiving a 5 out of 5 stars rating. Six Kaiser Permanente hospitals were named the best U.S. hospitals in Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals 2023 list, including the Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center in Hawaii and several medical centres in California.
The organisation has also faced some challenges, including strikes by healthcare workers demanding better pay and addressing staff shortages. However, Kaiser Permanente continues to be a leader in healthcare, with its Medicare health plan being one of only two such plans in the U.S. and recognition as the top health insurer in the nation for five consecutive years.
Prison Hospitals: What's in a Name?
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Kaiser Permanente's history in Washington dates back to the late 1930s
Kaiser Permanente is an American integrated managed care consortium headquartered in Oakland, California. It was founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney R. Garfield. The organisation was initially established to provide medical services at Kaiser's shipyards, steel mills, and other facilities before being opened to the general public. The name 'Permanente' came from Permanente Creek, which flowed past Henry Kaiser's Kaiser Permanente Cement Plant on Black Mountain in Cupertino, California. Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit health plans, serving 12.6 million members.
In 1942, Sidney R. Garfield & Associates opened its offices in Oakland to provide care to 20,000 workers, followed by the opening of the Permanente Health Plan. The Permanente Foundation, set up by Henry Kaiser as a charitable trust, became the Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, a charitable hospital corporation, in the late 1940s. The Permanente Medical Group formed in 1948 with seven physicians, a key step in the evolution of the physician-led leadership model.
In 1945, Kaiser Permanente Northwest was founded, and it comprised locations in Oregon and Washington, including Vancouver, Washington. In 2017, Kaiser Permanente expanded its reach in Washington by acquiring Group Health Cooperative, founded in 1947, and its subsidiaries. Kaiser Permanente Washington is headquartered in the Seattle metro area and serves over 9 million members at 35 medical centres and 431 medical offices across the country.
Coping in a Psychiatric Hospital: Strategies for Recovery
You may want to see also

Kaiser Permanente Northwest was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon
Kaiser Permanente is an American integrated managed care consortium that was founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney R. Garfield. The organisation was initially established to provide medical services at Kaiser's shipyards, steel mills, and other facilities before being opened to the general public. Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit health plans, serving 11.8 to 12.6 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia.
Kaiser Permanente Northwest, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, was founded in 1945. It comprises several cities in Oregon, including Portland, Eugene, and Salem, as well as Vancouver in Washington. The origins of Kaiser Permanente's presence in the Northwest Region began when they established a healthcare system to serve workers at the Kaiser shipyards in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, during World War II. Since then, their presence has expanded to serve the health needs of communities throughout Oregon and southwest Washington State.
Kaiser Permanente's history in the Pacific Northwest dates back to the late 1930s when a medical group was established to serve workers and their families during the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam in northeastern Washington. During World War II, these physicians continued to serve workers and their families at the Kaiser Shipyards in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. With the closing of the shipyards in 1945, enrollment was opened to the community, marking the official founding of Kaiser Permanente Northwest.
Kaiser Permanente Northwest is committed to strengthening connections between healthcare organisations and public health systems. They partner with local community organisations and collaborate with public health partners in Marion, Polk, Multnomah, and Washington counties to address future health challenges. Kaiser Permanente Northwest also has a strong focus on dental care, with eight dentists recognised in Portland Monthly's annual Top Dentists list.
Retirement Plans: A Hospital Worker's Benefit?
You may want to see also

Kaiser Permanente serves more than 12 million members across eight states and the District of Columbia
Kaiser Permanente is one of the largest non-profit health plans in the United States, serving more than 12 million members across eight states and the District of Columbia. The organisation was founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney R. Garfield. Initially, it provided medical services to workers in Kaiser's shipyards and steel mills. However, it later expanded to serve the general public and now operates as a consortium comprising three interdependent entities: the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (KFHP) and its regional subsidiaries, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, and the regional Permanente Medical Groups.
Kaiser Permanente has a long history of providing healthcare services, dating back to the 1930s when physicians served workers and their families during the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam in northeastern Washington. This early work laid the foundation for the organisation's expansion, and in 1958, Henry Kaiser moved to Oahu and insisted on bringing Kaiser Permanente to Hawaii. Today, Kaiser Permanente has a presence in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington, offering a range of medical services to its members.
The organisation consists of numerous medical centres and offices spread across these states. For example, in the state of Washington, Kaiser Permanente has a presence in Seattle, Spokane, and Silverdale, with medical centres and administrative offices serving the local communities. Similarly, in Virginia, Kaiser Permanente operates medical centres in Fredericksburg, Haymarket, Manassas, Tysons Corner, Reston, Springfield, and Stafford, among other locations. Each of these facilities contributes to the overall reach and impact of Kaiser Permanente's healthcare services.
Kaiser Permanente's large membership and extensive network of medical facilities highlight its significant role in the American healthcare landscape. The organisation's structure, with its interdependent entities and cooperative management, enables it to provide a wide range of services to its members. Kaiser Permanente's history, from its origins in industrial medicine to its expansion into family practice and various states, demonstrates its adaptability and commitment to serving the healthcare needs of communities across the nation. The recognition received by Kaiser Permanente hospitals, such as being listed among America's Best Maternity Hospitals by Newsweek in 2025, further underscores the organisation's dedication to delivering high-quality healthcare.
Where to Find Medical Care at the University of Michigan
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Kaiser Permanente has 29 hospitals that were listed in Newsweek's 2025 list of America's Best Maternity Hospitals. However, the exact number of hospitals under Kaiser Permanente is unclear. The organization operates as a consortium comprising three distinct but interdependent entities: the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (KFHP) and its regional subsidiaries, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, and the regional Permanente Medical Groups. They serve more than 9 million members at 35 medical centers and 431 medical offices across the country.
Kaiser Permanente serves eight states: California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia. The organization has headquarters in Oakland, California, and Portland, Oregon.
Kaiser Permanente is an American integrated managed care consortium founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney R. Garfield. It is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit health plans, serving 12.6 million members.
Kaiser Permanente provides high-quality, compassionate healthcare services, including maternity care. The organization also supports public policies that help provide high-quality, affordable healthcare and improve the health of the communities they serve.










![The Hospital [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61oQ2sBPcmL._AC_UY218_.jpg)




