In this episode of the Permanente Medicine Podcast, host Chris Grant, COO of The Permanente Federation, speaks with Letitia Bridges, MD, MBA, executive vice president and chief quality officer for The Permanente Federation and co-chair of Kaiser Permanente’s National Quality Committee.
Dr. Bridges shares a powerful and deeply human perspective on what it means to lead quality for one of the nation’s largest integrated care systems—where millions of patients rely on safe, evidence-based, empathetic, and coordinated care every day.
Together, they explore:
- Why quality is the North Star for Kaiser Permanente
- The role of prevention, evidence, and trust in delivering clinical excellence
- How systems of care improve outcomes in diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and more
- What patient-centered care looks like “from cradle to grave”
- The value-based model and why it drives nation-leading outcomes
- The challenges and opportunities facing healthcare today—from consumer expectations to regulatory disruption
- How demographic shifts (aging population, millennials) shape the future of care
- The role of AI and emerging technology in improving safety and effectiveness
- Why physician-led organizations deliver higher-quality care
- Her advice to the next generation of physicians and leaders
Dr. Bridges also shares a candid and lively glimpse into her life outside of medicine—raising three teenagers, exploring the outdoors, and finding joy, purpose, and balance amid it all.
