January 30, 2012
Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit integrated health care consortiums serving more than 8.8 million members across the United States, with headquarters in Oakland, California. The company is comprised of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and its regional operating subsidiaries, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, and the autonomous regional Permanente Medical Groups. Kaiser offers health care services through a network of over 167,300 employees, more than 15,129 physicians, 35 hospitals, and 454 medical offices. The people of Kaiser Permanente continuously look to reduce the environmental impact of operations. At Kaiser, they believe environmental stewardship doesn’t have to cost more; rather, it supports the commitment to providing affordable health care. Kaiser Permanente aims to share these experiences and practices with others to raise the bar of environmental performance and, ultimately, to benefit the health of its communities and the environment. They have made significant progress through sustainable facilities design, waste management, green purchasing, the establishment of farmers markets, and engaging employees and physicians in environmental stewardship, and have a far more sustainable operation today than ever before.