Kaiser Permanente earns J.D. Power 2011 Customer Service Champion distinction

Kaiser Permanente's National Pharmacy Programs and Services was recognized at the J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Roundtable in Las Vegas as a J.D. Power 2011 Customer Service Champion — one of only 40 companies to have earned the distinction this year.

To qualify for inclusion on this elite list, companies must not only excel within their own industries, but also must stand out among leading brands in 20 major industries evaluated by J.D. Power. Among the five key customer "touch points" measured, including people, presentation, process, product and price, Kaiser Permanente was noted for standing out in product and price among the group.

To identify the J.D. Power 2011 Customer Service Champions, J.D. Power evaluated more than 800 brands. Companies were identified based on customer feedback, opinions and perceptions gathered primarily from J.D. Power's syndicated research as well as additional, supplemental research. This group of 40 represents the highest-performing companies that deliver service excellence to U.S. customers — both within their respective industries and across all industries measured.

According to David Kvancz, vice president, National Pharmacy Programs and Services, for Kaiser Permanente, "We are honored to receive this distinction and be included in this elite group of companies that focus on customer service excellence. We have always believed that customer satisfaction is our top priority, and we appreciate this external recognition of our efforts."

This is the third such recognition from J.D. Power and Associates for the Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy Program within the past two years. In 2009 and 2010, the Pharmacy Program ranked highest in the mail-order segment for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power's U.S. National Pharmacy Study.