Dan and I were invited to say a few words at the celebration of the Colorado region's 40th anniversary on June 10th. Dan was in another state and at another meeting, which is happening a bit too much if you ask me! Of course, they scripted the event, but how powerful it was to have three executive medical directors, including  the Permanente Medical Group’s own Jack Cochran—can that man speak—and three Colorado presidents.  

Jack Cochran credited the prior president and his executive medical director partner with starting the electronic medical record (EMR) in the early 1990s. Wow, were they visionary!  The electronic medical record is now one of the most important investments KP has ever made and links all of the information a member has to all providers. The EMR is one of the more talked about progressive ways of improving quality and eliminating waste in health care.