Former type Nonprofit Website www.ghc.org Type Cooperative | Industry Healthcare Founded 1947 | |
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Founders Thomas G. Bevan, Ella Willams, Addison Shoudy, R.M Mitchell, and Stanley Erickson Defunct February 1, 2017 (2017-02-01) Headquarters Oakland, California, United States Subsidiaries KPS Health Plans, Inc. Similar Premera Blue Cross, Virginia Mason Medical, MultiCare Health System, Blue Shield of California, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of | ||
Group health cooperative ghc dirtt case study
Group Health Cooperative, (formerly known as Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound), later more commonly known as Group Health, was a Seattle, Washington based nonprofit healthcare organization. Established in 1945, it provided coverage and care for about 600,000 people in Washington and Idaho and was one of the largest private employers in Washington. Patients who received care at its medical centers were provided Web access to their medical records, secure emailing with doctors and nurses and the ability to fill prescriptions online that are mailed to homes without a shipping charge. On December 4, 2015, it was announced that Group Health would be acquired by Kaiser Permanente, forming the latter's eighth region. The acquisition closed on February 1, 2017.
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Group health cooperative office
Corporate structure
Group Health was officially registered as a corporation in Washington on December 22, 1945.
Despite being marketed as a cooperative for much of the organization's history, Group Health never legally presented itself as a cooperative. It was a nonprofit organization with members. Members were always able to amend bylaws and elect a board of trustees, but never owned organization assets or directly controlled operations.
History
Group Health's founders included Thomas G. Bevan, then president of lodge 751 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers at Boeing; Ella Willams, a leader in a local chapter of The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry; Addison Shoudy, R.M Mitchell, and Stanley Erickson, who were pioneers in the American cooperative movement; and other community members who had no strong past affiliation with any particular social group.
The Seattle Times noted in 2012 that non-profit insurance outfits, including Premera Blue Cross, Regence BlueShield and Group Health, were stockpiling billions of dollars in reserves while increasing their rates at the same time.
Group Health Research Institute
Group Health's research leg was the Group Health Research Institute (GHRI), formerly known as Group Health Center for Health Studies. Now known as Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI), it works with institutions such as the University of Washington and the National Institutes of Health. It is a member of the Health Care Systems Research Network (HCSRN), formerly known as the HMO Research Network.
Group Health Cooperative Medical Library
Group Health Cooperative Medical Library was founded in 1969. As of 2011 it subscribed to 8,000 electronic journals and had 400 books. It specializes in allied health professions, medicine, health maintenance organizations, health administration, nursing, and pharmacy.
Preventive care
Group Health was also a leader in providing coordinated and preventive care, including using health information technology and teamwork to support a personal relationship between a doctor and a patient.
Notable staff
Scott Armstrong became president and CEO of Group Health in 2003. He is a commissioner of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, board chair of the Alliance of Community Health Plans, a board member of America's Health Insurance Plans and the Pacific Science Center, a member of the Community Development Roundtable in Seattle and a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He was named among the top 40 of the "100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare" in 2010 by Modern Healthcare magazine.