Grant will fund a leadership program that aims to reduce health disparities for primary care and mental health services

(Black PR Wire) ATLANTA (October 7, 2009) -- On Oct. 8, 2009, Kaiser Permanente of Georgia will present a grant for nearly $500,000 to the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine to support the development and implementation of a workforce leadership program that will reduce health disparities by creating an integrated approach to primary care and mental health.

Former Surgeon General David Satcher, MD, Director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute will join Morehouse School of Medicine and Kaiser Permanente of Georgia officials at a check presentation held at the Louis W. Sullivan National Center for Primary Care. A tour of Morehouse School of Medicine will immediately follow the check presentation.

The grant will be used to train scholars to encourage effective policy and practice in order to remedy the causes of health disparities, to improve access to care and to develop health care leaders who will advance the integration of mental and primary health care. Additionally, this initiative will create partnerships between mental and primary health care to more effectively diagnose and treat mental health conditions.

“Morehouse School of Medicine strives to improve the health and well being of individuals and communities. Similarly, Kaiser Permanente’s vision is to end health disparities, help everyone get the care they need and make better health a reality for all,” said Peter Andruszkiewicz, president of Kaiser Permanente of Georgia. “This partnership will help address the findings of our needs assessment and ultimately make better health a reality for all.”

The project will also improve access to care for underserved populations.



Attention Media: The check presentation and tours will take place at 8:30 a.m. at the Louis W. Sullivan National Center for Primary Care (720 Westview Drive, SW - Atlanta, Georgia 30310). If you would like to attend, please call Jim Driscoll at 678-873-3906.

About Kaiser Permanente of Georgia
Kaiser Permanente is Georgia’s largest not-for-profit health plan. Its mission is to provide high quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of its members and the communities it serves. Kaiser Permanente serves more than 260,000 members in a 28-county service area in metro-Atlanta with care focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists, and team of heath care providers. Expert and caring medical teams are supported by industry-leading technology and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Nationally, Kaiser Permanente is recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers, serving more than 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.kp.org.