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The Division of Research (DOR), formerly called Medical Methods Research, was established in 1961 by Dr. Morris Collen to conduct research aimed at improving methods for delivery of health care to subscribers of Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Northern California Region. DOR pioneered automated multiphasic health testing systems to provide cost-effective health checkups. DOR also piloted a computer-based medical record system, which resulted in the accumulation of a large volume of medical data that could be used for research purposes.
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Currently, DOR’s 400-plus staff is employed in more than 220 epidemiological and health services research projects. The work is supported primarily by federal, state, and other outside institutions, as well as by The Permanente Medical Group and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan's Community Services funds. DOR’s total funding level exceeds $30 million. The research is conducted among the three million health plan members of Kaiser Permanente, Northern California Region (29 percent of the Bay Area/Sacramento population) using interviews, automated data, medical records, and clinical examinations. Researchers from DOR have contributed more than 1,200 papers to medical and public health literature. This work covers a wide range of topics that include heart disease, cancer, alcohol use, mental health, reproductive health, women's health, children's health, and many other health related problems.
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