A typical 8 hour day at work at KP would usually turn into 9-10, sometimes 11-12, hours, primarily to complete EMR documentation, which KP started in 1995. We were required to see patients every 20 minutes, which is about the industry norm (every 15-20 minutes), but the doctors are provided with personal medical assistants and/or LPN's, while the NPs were made to wait for their available time in between to have our patients vitals taken, and roomed for us. So, NPs consistently ran behind and had to deal with the wrath of waiting patients, as the MAs and LPNs refused to inform the patients.
I learned a lot during my 35 years as an NP; I said I always learned something new every day. Constantly changing evidence based medical information, as well as physicians providing us with their most current training info contributed to my daily education. The dichotomy between providing MDs vs NPs the most current info, treatment, diagnostic testing was very difficult - one of the most important being NPs trying to learn how to measure cervical length and dilation in pregnant women, using ultrasound. MDs were trained in this - NPs were not, but were expected to either magically know it, or wait, along with the patient, for an MD to find time between their own patients, to perform this for us. When I approached my nursing supervisor about learning this, she rejected my/our request, stated it was not standard of care (it WAS), and tried to label me as a trouble maker. We NPs/CNMs finally
Prostuition reimbursement, continuing education, paid vacation and sick leave, FMLA, HRA on retiring
Consunion trying to placate company execs, union working against each other, no shareholder benefits
5.0
Ophthalmic Technician | Bellevue, WA | May 13, 2015
Great Company and nice facility
Group Health provides a great place to work. The facility has everything you need to do your job. Team work is fantastic. I enjoyed the relationships on the job. The team is filled with talented and friendly people. A typical day starts with opening the exam rooms, reviewing the daily schedule, getting the patient's ready to see the doctor. The day goes by fast and the clinic work is fast paced. Co-workers will help you if you need the help. Training is provided for the skills needed to perform the work in the clinic. It was a wonderful place to work if you fit in with the clinic culture. During an interview make sure you are allowed to meet the technicians that you may be working with. Get a feel for the culture and make sure you will fit in and are accepted by the whole team.
Management was often seen walking looking down at the floor and not making eye contact. Management was not seen in clinic often and did not get to know me. Soon after I was hired two clinic team members told me that they were responsible for causing other new technicians to quit their job. These two team members also became lead technician and back up lead tech. I guess they were giving me heads up. I also heard the lead technician state that she was tired of looking at white people, and that I did not look like the typical white people in the PNW. My hair style was different or something like that, I forget why she told me that. She made a few comments about white people in gene
ProsGreat company
ConsYou must know that you fit in with the Bellevue technicians.
I’ve worked at KP in past and while benefit is excellent, I was floated 100% of the time multiple times in 1 shift in different departments. I tried to apply in other position but never got a call for interview so I was forced to resign. I was rehired years later and my unit today is very nice in terms of how people acts towards each other and how they treat each other. There is a sense of unity among staff even if some gossip and badmouthing behind your back still occur . There is a camaraderie and you could feel that the staff and the union that ties us all into 1 united group is cohesive . KP is a great place to work, the UNAC union and KP managed to successfully work in alliance with each other that makes everyone feel happy and safe in their job. In my observation and experience, it seems like there are more staff who are happy and contented at their job. People seem fair from managers to staff at least in my unit, and tries to meet halfway. Union is very active in helping members and you will not feel abandoned in a time of your greatest need. I am very proud of UNAC and KP as an employee.
You really want to give the best service to the patients because you want to give back to the organization . You are also being taken cared of very well as an internal staff by KP. I don’t feel being discriminated here because of the diversity at KP. Each of these diverse culture shares something new to the pot and you can’t help but feel part of a group that is united and h
An Employee was recently terminated from this company for an incident taking place more than 9 months ago. This incidenct was never brought to the attention of employee, nor did Direct Mgmt or HR never approached the employee at the time of the incident. The employee was never given opportunity , requested, or allowed his accounts with proper documentation or indicent statements for his file, was never counseled or disciplined for this indicent at or around the time it happened, and most importantly, was unaware or informed of the accounts of the incident or the circumstances in which it was caused. Management and HR calls employee to meeting 9 months after incident. At that time, the employee is told he is being investigated for an "incident" and is not given any disclosure of information or reasons for suspension. Also at this time, employee is never given documentation or is requested for signatures to any documentation, Mgmt/HR does not allow employee to make any statementments, suspends the employee on paid leave for 2 days, and is told to report back for follow-up meeting at predetermined date/time. Upon return to this follow-up meeting, the incident is then discolosed to the employee and he is requested his verbal accounts of the incident. He was never allowed the opportunity to view his file or any documentation regarding the incident at the time of this follow-up meeting. At this time when his accounts are disclosed, a memo was then given to the employee stating his
Kaiser Permanente Volunteer Services, Wildomar, California
I report to the Wildomar Outpatient Pharmacy and start the day by retrieving all prescriptions that have not been picked up patients in the last seven days. I return to stock all of the prescriptions in small, bulk, or refrigerated form and scan all of them to ensure they have been returned to stock. After that, I cross out the names and drug information numbers for patient privacy. As I wait for the Central Refill Pharmacy medications, I restock other items such as paper bags, pill cutters, measuring spoons, and over the counter medications. At the same time I am placing new order prescriptions in small plastic bags then shelve them in appropriate bins or refrigerator for easy access. The prescriptions from the Central Refill Pharmacy arrive and I unload each tote and place each prescription into their proper bins for easy access. I collect each scan card attached to the totes and scan them in so that they are now a part of our computer system. I cross reference the manifest with all the refrigerated prescriptions to ensure they have been received and properly stored.
I have learned the meaning and importance of multi-tasking and paying close attention to fine detail. Getting along with co-workers is a must and offering a helping hand goes a long way in being able to succeed in the pharmacy work environment. I have learned that customer service is very important and that patient health care the number one priority in the pharmacy setting. Having a can-do, positiv
Prosexperience, communicating with customers and patients, belongingness
Big Corporation, Big Politics. Only the privileged elite and the "Yes Men" are valued.
I had on rose colored glasses as a fomer life long KP patient- looking to pay it forward & make a career with what appeared to be a patient centered network of HEALTH CARE teams. There are, a few truly warm hearted, do-the-right-thing employees peppered throughout the departements. To my disappointment, the majority look the other way or worse, undermine and even backstab their own colleagues. All for the benefit of a little Hush Money or "Golden Handcuffs" they shamelessly refer to it as.
Yes, Kaiser pay/benefits are at the top of the scale.
For a reason. Most people will do whatever is necessary to not part with what benefits them personally/monetarily. Forbid they work for a more ethical and humane (on the part of patients and employees alike) healthcare system for a potentially slightly lesser benefit package. Myself and others have been shocked by the cut-throat, fear driven nature of even the most supposedly compassionate departments such as Care Management (chaplains, care coordinators, social workers, community navigators).
Management provides no training and then punishes the employee for that lack of training. It's all very concocted and strategized. Nothing is what it seems. If you think for yourself, don't automatically fall in line, aren't a company girl or a Yes Man- you will be publicly shamed, mocked and run out.
I can count on one hand the people I trust in my workplace/teams totalling hundreds. Rather than acting as a support or guide or even encourag
ProsPay/Benefits/Continuing Education
ConsFear driven with a sad loss of identity in what Health Care really means
For those that are sonographers - it's a sweat shop.
I was sent here by a staffing agency, without realizing i was replacing two techs they had been "let go" because they didn't "cut it". Kaiser interviews well over the phone, and they like to say "it's a fast paced environment". Well, let's just say THAT is like saying "Hitler was a tad aggressive with his ideas."
Typical day:
Your schedule is 16 patients (every 30 mins.) per 8 hour day, per tech. Each exam must be performed within 20 mins. or less. The extra 10 mins, is used inputting your worksheets in a new computer system, plus showing your work to a rad. Sometimes you have to stand in line for this. Thus, there goes your 10 mins. Your schedule will also include 3-4 high risk OB exams daily including fingers, toes, aorta/renal etc. Twins? 20 mins. each. Also, if you do a transvag. exam, you have to also include the time it takes to return the probe to the Cidex room, with paper work to fill out with each of these type of exams.
There are no morning or afternoon breaks. These are included in your lunch hour. You are not allowed to have food or beverages (not even bottled water) in your room. Your room is sometimes randomly inspected sometimes by admin. for these items. If you are caught? You will be reprimanded.
If you are 5+ mins. late to your room, depending on who's in charge, there is a post-it note publicly placed on the managers door with your name on it. If you're doing ER/inpatients, usually, when you walk in the door - before your start time
ProsYou'll learn to scan faster! AND you'll learn the true meaning of a new word - "productivity".
ConsHigh stress, too much estrogen/gossiping/cattiness/insecurity
5.0
Senior Information Specialist | Portland, OR | Apr 16, 2013
The team that works together stays together
A typical day at work may involve resolving issues patients may have with their disability paperwork regarding time loss, or advising an attorney who may have questions regarding a patient's medical history for a case they are preparing for on a patient's behalf. The scenarios are many, and often unpredictable. You must be able to think on your feet and turn on a dime, and use good judgement while doing so.
The patient is first and foremost your highest priority, and sometimes you are needed to be their advocate when dealing with third party liability scenarios involving insurance companies, or obtaining much needed care from another health care provider or source. The examples demonstrated here represent only a small .02 cent's worth of a fraction of many. Your face represents Kaiser Permanente, and the patient or client associates their care and treatment with how well you represent yourself on behalf of Kaiser Permanente.
What I have learned from management is attendance is of utmost importance. Being on time shows respect. Respect for your coworkers, your supervisor, your patients and for yourself. Productivity is also important. To be able to work in an high stress environment, which includes multiple interruptions due to phone calls, emails which include answering questions from your co-workers, supervisors, medical providers, and patients, all while being able to meet all their demands eight ways to Sunday, and meet your productivity quota, is a daily challenge we al
Prosexcellent medical and dental package. excellent benefits.
Consseniority required for first choice of vacation slots allocated.
2.0
Teleservice Representative | Vallejo, CA | Apr 26, 2014
Modern day sweat shop
This department, micromanages their employees, timed bathroom breaks, and worst of all, they limit employees on how much they can actually help patients.
A typical day at work consisted of you being "tied" down to ur desk for your entire shift. Taking call, after call, after call, with zero breathing room in between. This department has a HUGE employee call out problem (surprise, surprise) and on top of that, they understaff about 98% of the time, making the work load for those who actually show up to work unbearable. On any given 8hr shift and employee takes about 120 calls. Time away from your desk, or time that is spent not available to take a call is counted against your stats which are monitored better than they monitor patient's health. You can forget about going to the bathroom if you are not on a break/lunch. If you do have to go, you are timed, (try working there pregnant!) if you go over allotted time, even by seconds, you are written up. Employees are not allowed to open blinds in the building as this causes other employees migraine headaches. Doors and windows are also not allowed to be open, EVER. This causing poor air circulation and bad air quality. The interior of the facility is extremely small for the amount of employees they try to fit in there. The building is crammed with 400 individuals. It is extremely dusty and also filthy. There have even sightings of rats and cockroaches reported by swing shift employees. On Monday mornings, it is close to impossi
3.0
Patient Services Representative | Oakland, CA | Aug 18, 2015
Kaiser Permanente Review
My day begins at 4AM when I join the Night Shift Supervisor and Staffing Coordinator to discuss staffing and census needs for the upcoming shift. Once I arrive at the hospital, our huddle comes together. It includes the Service Directors, Nurse Managers, and Bed Control Supervisor. We review the OR schedule, ED activity, and confirm census and staffing for the day. Later in the AM, the entire hospital leadership team gathers for a daily safety briefing. Each department reports on any workplace injuries and/or safety issues. Assignments to resolve any outstanding issues are made at this time with the expectation that there will be a follow-up by 2PM each day. Census and staffing are reviewed again before the noon hour in anticipation of needs for the afternoon shift. At noon, nurse managers participate in a demand capacity conference call to ensure that discharges are not being delayed. The Service Directors gather again, at 4:30PM to huddle about bed placement needs for ED and PACU patients. At 7:00PM, the Staffing Coordinator reviews staffing needs for the night shift.
What I learned from this organization is the incredible amount of focus on accountability. This is important if the organization will be successful.
There has been a great deal of turnover in management since I arrived 9 months ago. I believe some of this is due to the cultural transformation that is occurring and some due to the incredible surge in volume this facility had not anticipated due to health
Questions And Answers about Kaiser Permanente
Why did you leave your job at Kaiser Permanente?
Asked Mar 17, 2017
You are generally overworked, doing monitoring of jobs starting at 4:00 i the morning. Even then we have to work until 4:30 ~ 5:00 in the evenings. We are asked to get up and monitor at 4:00 in the morning, even on weekends. And this repeats every alternate week. Toxic environment.
Answered Sep 9, 2021
The most toxic environment ever. The benefits are so amazing because they use it to shut you up about what’s really happening behind the scenes. Management bullies and uses employees as scapegoats for their failings. Co-workers will stab you in the back, but upper mgt fosters that. It’s mental suicide to work for Kaiser and overrated.
Answered Sep 3, 2020
If you were in charge, what would you do to make Kaiser Permanente a better place to work?
Asked Aug 30, 2017
Fire all the low level managers and rehire professionals that actually have skills in motivating and retaining employees. Hire a skilled union negotiator.
Answered Feb 24, 2021
Open door policy. Work with union to implement change
Answered Nov 7, 2020
What is the best way to get a foot in the door?
Asked Aug 20, 2016
I applied for EVS Environmental Services day it posted for San Francisco, received a call next day for a phone interview, Then 3 weeks later in person interview. The very next day I was given a offer. Now on day 3 to hear back regarding my background clearance. My advice if you want it bad enough, gotta apply, apply and apply. Most important try to be the first to apply. Try to apply within 30 minutes or less to see your name is called. Member kaiser only pulls so many applications I believe the first 50 and break it down from there. Hope this helps!
Answered Dec 12, 2019
Any job more pay with benefit
Answered Jul 25, 2019
What advice would you give the CEO of Kaiser Permanente about how to improve it?
Asked May 16, 2017
They should at least assign someone who have time to train people not being stressed out if you are new to the job. Schedule should be at least already fixed not to be changed within the week that's been working on already.
Answered Nov 3, 2020
CEO needs to open his eyes and Moniter DSA leadership, Walnut Creek. Care Management manager has long history of abusing her employees, bullying and harassing them. Especially; people of color. The manager should be fired long time ago, no consequences for the manager because manager have friends and families who work at the executive leadership office.
Answered Aug 14, 2020
What is the interview process like at Kaiser Permanente?
Asked Sep 2, 2016
Meet with Manager; discuss experience, goals, and work style.
Answered May 12, 2021
In 2011, I was interviewed by 3 people in one sitting - two members of management and one peer. Pretty daunting.
