Unit-based teams, negotiated as part of the 2005 National Agreement, are the platform for performance improvement across Kaiser Permanente. A team includes all the participants in a natural work unit or department, including supervisors, union stewards and staff members, physicians, dentists and managers. The team supports the regional business strategy and goals for performance, service quality, efficiency and growth. Because teams increase consistency and standardization of treatment, they improve care.

We do the work

Members of a unit-based team work collaboratively as partners and participate in:

• Planning and designing work processes.
• Setting goals and establishing metrics.
• Reviewing and evaluating team performance.
• Budgeting, staffing and scheduling.
• Identifying and resolving problems.

UBTs work on:

• Day-to-day operations.
• Work environment.
• Improving performance.
• Initiatives such as workplace safety.
• Work flows and design.

UBTs do not work on:

• Changing Kaiser Permanente’s strategic direction.
• Scope of practice.
• Labor relations or contractual issues.
• Legal or regulatory issues.

Unit-based teams tap the creativity, skills and experience of their members in a process that consistently engages frontline workers and improves performance. By the end of 2010, Kaiser Permanente aims to fully deploy unit-based teams as the operating model that will distinguish us from our competitors and consistently deliver high-quality, affordable service and care.

There’s something for everyone in UBTs

• Kaiser Permanente members and patients emerge as the focus of improved care.
• Frontline providers see their experience and knowledge at work when they engage in collaborative decision making and offer innovative solutions to issues of care.
• Stewards and union co-leads are growing into work-unit leaders.
• Physicians are supported in providing high-quality, compassionate, patient-centered care.
• Managers expand their skills in workplace collaboration, coaching and mentoring.