Group Health to lead state health care reform pilots

September 1, 2010 — 10:00 am

The Washington State Health Care Authority has named Group Health Cooperative to lead pilot projects to improve health care quality for Washingtonians. Group Health will lead an effort to bring a variety of health care providers from primary care doctors and physical therapists to surgeons and hospitals into an organized group that is collectively responsible for the health of each patient. This model of “integrated care” is one that has guided Group Health since its founding in 1947. It is seen by many as the answer to slowing down increasing costs by doing a better job of caring for each patient, avoiding unnecessary tests and treatments, emergency room visits and hospitalizations caused by lack of communication and coordination.

“We know that part of the answer lies in doctors working together to create a system that is accountable for the health of each patient as he or she moves through the continuum of care — prevention, diagnosis, treatment, recovery and prevention again,” Group Health President and CEO Scott Armstrong said. “Within Group Health we have demonstrated that integrated care can provide distinctly better results. This is an exciting opportunity to extend participation in this more holistic approach to providers across the state.”

Bringing providers together, sharing responsibility for cost and quality, is called an “Accountable Care Organization” (ACO) in new state legislation and federal health care reform.

“When I sponsored Senate Bill 6522, my goal was to expand the concept of accountable care organizations by developing a functional accountable care model in those communities that cannot support the traditional integrated delivery network,” said Cheryl Pflug, State Senator, 5th District. “I’m excited to see the selection of Group Health as the lead organization. This next step will build upon their recent success with enhancing the coordinating role of the primary care provider. I look forward to substantial progress toward an efficient health system that is far more satisfying for patients and providers,” Pflug said

The pilots must be developed by January 2012 without using state funding. Group Health may seek federal funds and solicit grants, donations, and other sources of funding. The Group Health Research Institute (GHRI) and Douglas A. Conrad, University of Washington (UW) professor of Health Services and co-director of UW’s Center for Health Management Research, will help evaluate the pilot projects.

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Group Health CEO Named One of the Most Powerful People in Healthcare

August 23, 2010 — 5:33 pm

Scott Armstrong, Group Health President and CEO

This morning we woke up to the news that Scott Armstrong, Group Health’s President and CEO, was named #38 in Modern Health Care’s 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare. The list was topped with President Barack Obama in first place and followed by Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebeliusl; and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.

The magazine featured a great interview with Scott as he talked about Group Health being in the national spotlight and recognized for its innovative work to bring down costs of health care and providing quality care.

Excerpt from the article:
“Managing all the changes coming fast and furious from Washington is top of mind for those who made it onto this year’s 100 Most Powerful list.

Scott Armstrong, president and CEO of Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, debuted at No. 38. Group Health was in the national spotlight last year as Congress pondered whether to replicate the health cooperative model in other states through the healthcare reform bill. The idea of setting up co-ops across the country to compete for health insurance business did not ultimately gain traction, but Group Health earned new admirers for its ability to improve quality while reining in costs.

“The question is how we implement it and make this real,” says Armstrong, who was also recently appointed as a commissioner to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. “I run a company that is demonstrating how to make this possible.”

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Limeade and Group Health work to deliver wellness tools

July 29, 2010 — 7:57 am

Limeade, a leading provider of corporate well-being, productivity and health solutions, today joined forces with Group Health Cooperative, to jointly offer wellness services to its staff members, their spouses and domestic partners.

Group Health also joined the Limeade Alliance Member program, to help pilot Limeade with a select group of employers that purchase Group Health coverage in the coming year. The Limeade service integrates existing Group Health services such as health screenings, health coaching, and ongoing reporting and consulting services.

“To continue innovating to improve our members’ health and better serve the community actually starts with our staff and their families. We need to walk the talk,” said Lin MacMaster, Group Health’s VP of marketing.

“The future of health care isn’t just about insurance, doctors, hospitals and medications,” MacMaster added. “It’s about making real connections and tapping human potential – really giving individuals control to make smart decisions and live their best, healthiest life possible. Limeade gets that, and we saw them as a refreshing alternative to some other, more traditional offerings we’ve been researching.”

Group Health is using interactive, innovative technologies such as Limeade’s to help create better health for its members, and to create more financially sustainable health care models for its employer customers.

The Limeade wellness service is known for its positive, social, whole-person approach. Limeade CEO Henry Albrecht noted: “We’re thrilled to welcome Group Health as an employer customer and a Limeade Alliance Member. Group Health continually asks, ‘How can we best improve employee health, well-being and performance?’ We’re humbled and honored to be part of the answer.”

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Pacific Science Center and Group Health team up for kids health

July 28, 2010 — 7:52 am

Professor WellbodyPacific Science Center is developing an innovative and highly immersive new exhibit, Professor Wellbody’s Health & Wellness Academy, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2011. The center is working with Group Health to bring the Exhibit to life.

The exhibit guests will be encouraged to get their game on in the Fitness Play Zone, dodge flying particles at the Sneeze Wall, glimpse their future self with the interactive aging software and climb musical stairs to a second floor of discovery.

This is the Science Center’s first new permanent exhibit in more than a decade. It will address individual and community health and well-being at a time when preventable conditions such as obesity, and chronic diseases like Type II diabetes are on the rise and access to health care is a growing concern.

“Since 1947, Group Health has focused on helping to improve the health of our patients and of the communities we serve,” said Group Health President & CEO Scott Armstrong. “Helping the Science Center bring Professor Wellbody’s Health & Wellness Academy to life is a natural extension of our mission to help people in their journey to lead the healthiest, best life possible.”

Group Health was the first to provide a leadership gift, followed by a $1 million challenge grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

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New board chair of Group Health

July 13, 2010 — 10:44 am

Rosemary Daszkiewicz, JD, Group Health Board Chair

Trustees from Group Health’s  Board elected Rosemary Daszkiewicz,to serve as chair of the Group Health for the remainder of 2010.The former chair of the Cooperative, Bobbie Berkowitz RN, PhD, resigned this month to pursue a new job as head of the Columbia University School of Nursing.

Daszkiewicz, who manages legal and human resources as the senior director of Plum Creek Timber Co., originally joined the Board in 2003.

The Group Health Board of Trustees – made up of 11 active Group Health members, also elected Dorothy Ruzicki, PhD, RN, of Mead, Wash., to fill the vacant trustee position through the end of 2010. Porsche Everson, current board member in Seattle, was also named vice chair, the previous position held by Daszkiewicz.

For more information on the 2010 Group Health Board of Trustees candidates, go to www.ghc.org and search for “2010 Annual Membership Meeting.”

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Meet Sounders FC starter this Saturday

June 16, 2010 — 12:18 pm

Everyone’s invited to come meet Seattle Sounders FC starter Brad Evans this Saturday, June 19 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Group Health’s Bellevue Medical Center, 11511 NE 10th Street, Bellevue, WA 98004.

Bring your family and friends–and your Sounders or soccer gear for autographs.

Group Health is a presenting sponsor of Sounders FC Summer Youth Camps to promote soccer and a healthy, active lifestyle to kids all over Washington State. For more information about the camps, visit: http://www.soundersfc.com/Youth/Youth-Programs.aspx

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Childhood obesity linked to neighborhood social and economic status

June 11, 2010 — 10:50 am

Seattle Children’s, UW, and Group Health study 8,000 King County children

Children in King County, Washington, are more likely to be obese if they live in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods. This is according to a team of researchers at Seattle Children’s Research Institute, the University of Washington (UW), and Group Health Research Institute. Social Science & Medicine e-published the research this week in advance of printing it.

The researchers found obesity most common in children living in neighborhoods with the least-educated females, (more…)

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Making a commitment to Haiti

June 9, 2010 — 9:35 am

Sunset as doctors return to the clinic

Group Health has developed a long-term volunteer program that will send clinicians to provide medical care in Haiti throughout the rest of 2010. Led by a different doctor each trip, Group Health’s goal is to sponsor two one-week trips per month. Volunteers include physicians, physician assistants, nurses and nurse practitioners, and lab and pharmacy personnel.

Don Van Nimwegen, MD, a retired Group Health anesthesiologist, will lead the pilot trip to Haiti leaving on June 12. Working with Healing the Children, the experienced medical relief doctor already spent three weeks in Haiti looking for ways to assist the devastated nation. He found a starting place—a tent encampment near Port-au-Prince.

Dr. Nimwegen told us, (more…)

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Group Health recognized as leader in health care equality

June 7, 2010 — 1:59 pm

Group Health Central Hospital in Seattle has been named a top performer in the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) 2010. Our hospital earned top marks for its treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) patients and employees, giving it the distinction of being recognized as a “Best Healthcare Facility of LGBT Families.” This is the second year in a row that Group Health has been listed as a top performer.

The HEI is an annual survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation. It gathers voluntary information from (more…)

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Group Health Connects Blog

June 2, 2010 — 11:59 am

Group Health launched a new blog called Group Health Connects to support and connect all of the passionate Group Health staff and members who are active in the community. (more…)

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