Our Research
In 2021, Dr. Lewis was recognized as one of the world’s top 25 researchers publishing in the journal Implementation Science. She recently co-authored a 3-part series in Cognitive & Behavioral Practice about the process of implementing cognitive behavioral therapy in a youth residential setting.
Science to serve one goal: Better health
Scientists at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) have a rare advantage: We work within a system that provides both care and coverage. With a 360-degree view of people’s everyday health experience over time, we discover what works best to serve Kaiser Permanente's mission: Better health.
We collaborate closely with Kaiser Permanente Washington's medical staff and other providers—gaining from their perspectives on practical approaches to health care’s toughest problems. Together, we create a learning health care system—a place where research strengthens practice and practice strengthen research.
Scientists
Working in the public interest
Our faculty work on interdisciplinary research teams, conducting about 300 studies at any given time. They partner with affiliate researchers and others from academic institutions and health systems and share findings in the public domain to serve the public good.
See our KPWHRI researcher directory.
Suicide prevention
Most mental health patients answer firearm question
Study shows patients will usually answer a question about firearm access, providing key information for suicide prevention.
Co-designing with patients
Patient collaboration sparks care innovations
By partnering with patients, KPWHRI researchers developed 2 new interventions to boost lung cancer screening.
Funding sources
A broad base of support
Most of our support comes from federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health. We also contract with biomedical companies and receive grants from private foundations. About 5 percent of our budget comes from Kaiser Permanente Washington.
See our list of funders.
New funding
Grant of over $55M to boost Alzheimer’s, dementia study
Kaiser Permanente Washington will co-lead an expanded ACT Program to better understand the aging brain.
Research
COVID-19 pandemic research at KPWHRI
Having long tracked infectious diseases and tested vaccines, KPWHRI now focuses on the novel coronavirus.
Recent publications
Tuzzio L, O'Meara ES, Holden E, Parchman ML, Ralston JD, Powell JA, Baldwin LM. Barriers to implementing cardiovascular risk calculation in primary care: alignment with the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Am J Prev Med. 2021 Feb;60(2):250-257. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.07.027. Epub 2020 Dec 3. PubMed
Richesson RL, Marsolo KS, Douthit BJ, Staman K, Ho PM, Dailey D, Boyd AD, McTigue KM, Ezenwa MO, Schlaeger JM, Patil CL, Faurot KR, Tuzzio L, Larson EB, O'Brien EC, Zigler CK, Lakin JR, Pressman AR, Braciszewski JM, Grudzen C, Fiol GD. Enhancing the use of EHR systems for pragmatic embedded research: lessons from the NIH Health Care Systems Research Collaboratory. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2021 Oct 1:ocab202. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocab202. Online ahead of print. PubMed
Steel TL, Bradley KA. Improving care for inpatient alcohol withdrawal syndrome: addressing the lack of rigorous research on a common condition Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2021 Oct;18(10):1622-1623. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202105-591ED. PubMed
Baldwin LM, Coronado GD, West II, Schwartz MR, Meenan RT, Vollmer WM, Petrik AF, Shapiro JA, Kulkarni-Sharma YR, Green BB. Health plan-based mailed fecal testing for colorectal cancer screening among dual-eligible Medicaid/Medicare enrollees: Outcomes of 2 program models. Cancer. 2021 Sep 29. doi: 10.1002/cncr.33909. Online ahead of print. PubMed
Collaborate with us
KPWHRI oversees all research conducted at Kaiser Permanente Washington, ensuring that all studies involving Kaiser Permanente Washington members are aligned with the organization’s primary mission: to improve health. Researchers from outside Kaiser Permanente Washington can learn more about our processes for collaborating with KPWHRI faculty members.
Land Acknowledgment
Our Seattle offices sit on the occupied land of the Duwamish and by the shared waters of the Coast Salish people, who have been here thousands of years and remain. Learn about practicing land acknowledgment.