Technology Evaluation Center: Kaiser Collaboration
TEC's collaborative relationship with Kaiser Permanente began in 1993. This relationship has given TEC staff ready access to Kaiser's clinical experts on a wide range of topics. In many cases, these physicians either chair or sit on committees that are responsible for developing practice guidelines. TEC also has assembled a team of experts specifically to assist in study review methodology.
As a result of TEC's collaboration with Kaiser, David M. Eddy, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Advisor for Health Policy and Management, Care Management Institute, The Permanente Federation, served for over 10 years as TEC's Scientific Advisor, until his retirement from the position in 2004. In addition, one Permanente physician, Jed Weissberg, M.D., is a voting member of TEC's Medical Advisory Panel. Dr. Weissberg is the Associate Executive Director for Quality and Performance Improvement, The Permanente Federation.
TEC Assessments and other publications are provided to Kaiser Permanente staff. Dr. Weissberg participates actively in the MAP discussions, sharing clinical opinion from Permanente physicians on the draft TEC products. TEC staff works with Kaiser Permanente's Technology Assessment staff to obtain input on topic selection and to gain access to Permanente's physician experts on a wide range of topics. Permanente clinical expertise may be used to help shape the actual research questions in TEC Assessments. In many cases, these are the same physicians that either chair or sit on committees that are responsible for developing practice guidelines at Kaiser.
