Permanente Medicine Podcast

Ep.39: Designing care that delivers quality, access, and affordability

In this episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, Chris Grant speaks with Ameya Kulkarni, MD, executive medical director of the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, about the future of physician-led, value-based care. The conversation explores how integrated care models can improve access, affordability, quality, and patient trust while reducing friction for both patients and physicians. Dr. Kulkarni also shares insights on physician well-being, meaningful work in medicine, and why rebuilding trust may be one of the most important investments in the future of health care.

Ep. 38 Quality care in a value-based system

In this episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, host Chris Grant, COO of The Permanente Federation, speaks with Letitia Bridges, MD, MBA, executive vice president and chief quality officer for The Permanente Federation and co-chair of Kaiser Permanente’s National Quality Committee. Dr. Bridges shares a powerful and deeply human perspective on what it means to lead quality for one of the nation’s largest integrated care systems—where millions of patients rely on safe, evidence-based, empathetic, and coordinated care every day. Together, they explore: - Why quality is the North Star for Kaiser Permanente - The role of prevention, evidence, and trust in delivering clinical excellence - How systems of care improve outcomes in diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and more - What patient-centered care looks like “from cradle to grave” - The value-based model and why it drives nation-leading outcomes - The challenges and opportunities facing healthcare today—from consumer expectations to regulatory disruption - How demographic shifts (aging population, millennials) shape the future of care - The role of AI and emerging technology in improving safety and effectiveness - Why physician-led organizations deliver higher-quality care - Her advice to the next generation of physicians and leaders Dr. Bridges also shares a candid and lively glimpse into her life outside of medicine—raising three teenagers, exploring the outdoors, and finding joy, purpose, and balance amid it all.

Ep. 37: A systems approach to suicide prevention with Pavan Somusetty, MD, and Jackie Ryan

Suicide is a deeply personal tragedy — and a pressing public health challenge. In this episode, we take a closer look at how health systems can lead meaningful change through prevention, early intervention, and compassion. Dr. Pavan Somusetty, regional chief of mental health at Northwest Permanente and national leader for suicide prevention at Kaiser Permanente, joins Jackie Ryan, psychiatry practice director at Northwest Permanente and Zero Suicide program manager, to discuss how to change organizational culture around identifying patients, supporting them, and talking about suicide with them. They also share how to embed suicide prevention into all levels of the health system — even in non-mental health settings — using data, proactive screenings, and a comprehensive commitment to saving lives. Together, they explore: • What the evidence shows about what works • How the Zero Suicide model is reducing suicide attempts • Practical ways clinicians can better identify and support patients at risk • The promise of AI and data analytics to strengthen prevention efforts • The cultural shift needed to truly destigmatize mental health It’s a conversation grounded in both expertise and empathy — because every life matters, and every encounter is an opportunity to help. #suicideprevention #suicide #zerosuicide #firearmssafety

Ep. 36: AI, innovation, and value-based care in medicine with Dr. Khang Nguyen

AI and machine learning are at the forefront of transforming health care today — and when applied as value-based health care innovations [https://permanente.org/medical-excellence/driving-healthcare-innovation-in-10-steps/] that enhance the human touch and keep the patient in the center, they’re best positioned to set clinicians up for success. Khang Nguyen, MD, chief transformation officer of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, discusses how AI can increase clinicians’ joy in medicine and improve patient outcomes with Chris Grant, chief operating offer and executive vice president of Kaiser Permanente, The Permanente Federation, and host of the Permanente Medicine Podcast.

Ep. 35: Evolution in value-based care and its impact on medicine with Dr. Sachin Jain

The backdrop of rapid innovation, consolidation, and evolving patient needs means value-based care and its impact on medicine is changing. Think AI and robotics, emerging health disparities, and new corporate competitors challenging the status quo. What does all this mean for the present and future of patient-centered, integrated care? In the 2024 season finale of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, Sachin Jain, MD [https://www.scanhealthplan.com/about-scan/leadership/sachin-jain], CEO of SCAN Group [https://www.thescangroup.org/] and SCAN Health Plan [https://www.scanhealthplan.com/], joins Chris Grant [https://permanente.org/chris-grant/], COO and executive vice president of Kaiser Permanente, The Permanente Federation, to survey the shifting landscape of the health care industry and explore its impact on patients and communities.