OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- About 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, but early detection can lead to more treatment options and increased chances of survival. On Oct. 17, Kaiser Permanente demonstrated its commitment to early detection by setting a Guinness World Record for the most breast cancer screenings completed in one day at multiple sites.

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A total of 5,939 possibly lifesaving mammograms were administered at Kaiser Permanente facilities across the country.

"Early detection of breast cancer saves lives," said Edward M. Ellison, MD, executive medical director of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group.  "Breast cancer is most successfully treated when detected in its beginning stages.  In setting this world record, our message to members is: 'Please get all of your preventive screenings when recommended -- don't wait!'"

Kaiser Permanente was recently ranked as No. 1 in breast cancer screening, according to the 2013 National Committee for Quality Assurance's Quality Compass® data*.

"Kaiser Permanente's commitment to cancer care reflects our commitment to quality," said Jed Weissberg, MD, senior vice president, Hospitals, Quality and Care Delivery Excellence, Kaiser Permanente. "We have dedicated physicians and care teams who use best practices and cutting-edge tools to prevent, detect and provide treatment. Our consistently excellent performance in the national rankings reflects Kaiser Permanente's commitment to helping our members get healthy and stay healthy."

To further its commitment to fighting cancer, Kaiser Permanente recently launched kp.org/cancercare, available in both English and Spanish. The new website highlights the organization's unique approach to overcoming cancer through earlier detection, excellent personalized care delivered with compassion, leading-edge research and technology, and lifestyle coaching.

About Kaiser PermanenteKaiser Permanente can conduct transformational health research in part because it has the largest private patient-centered electronic health system in the world. The organization's electronic health record system, Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect®, securely connects 9.1 million patients to more than 16,000 physicians in almost 600 medical offices and 37 hospitals. It also connects Kaiser Permanente's research scientists to one of the most extensive collections of longitudinal medical data available, facilitating studies and important medical discoveries that shape the future of health and care delivery for patients and the medical community.

*The source for data contained in this publication is Quality Compass® 2013 and is used with the permission of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Quality Compass 2013 includes certain CAHPS data. Any data display, analysis, interpretation, or conclusion based on these data is solely that of the authors, and NCQA specifically disclaims responsibility for any such display, analysis, interpretation, or conclusion. Quality Compass is a registered trademark of NCQA. CAHPS® is a registered trademark of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Contact: Farra Levin, 510-267-7364, farra.r.levin@kp.org

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente

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