Group Health Cooperative
Encyclopedia
Group Health Cooperative, more commonly known as Group Health, is a Seattle, Washington based nonprofit healthcare organization. Established in 1947, it today provides coverage and care for about 700,000 people in Washington and Idaho
and is one of the largest private employers in Washington. Patients who receive care at its medical centers are 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.
Despite being marketed as a cooperative
for much of the organization's history, Group Health has never legally presented itself as a cooperative. It is a nonprofit organization
with members. Members have always been able to amend bylaws and elect a board of trustees, but have never owned organization assets or directly controlled operations.
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.
, formerly known as Group Health Center for Health Studies
, works with institutions such as the University of Washington
and the National Institutes of Health
. For example, in January 2006, the Center released the results of a study that concluded that regular exercise is associated with a delay in the onset of dementia
and Alzheimer's disease
.
, medicine, health maintenance organizations, health administration
, nursing, and pharmacy.
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and is one of the largest private employers in Washington. Patients who receive care at its medical centers are 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.
Corporate structure
Group Health was officially registered as a corporation in Washington on 22 December 1945.Despite being marketed as a cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
for much of the organization's history, Group Health has never legally presented itself as a cooperative. It is a nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
with members. Members have always been able to amend bylaws and elect a board of trustees, but have 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 WorkersInternational Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is an AFL-CIO/CLC trade union representing approx. 646,933 workers as of 2006 in more than 200 industries.-Formation and early history:...
at Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
; 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
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
movement; and other community members who had no strong past affiliation with any particular social group.
Group Health Research Institute
Its research leg, the Group Health Research InstituteGroup Health Research Institute
Group Health Research Institute , formerly known as Group Health Center for Health Studies, is a non-proprietary, public-domain research institution within Group Health Cooperative...
, formerly known as Group Health Center for Health Studies
Center for Health Studies
The Center for Health Studies , Group Health Cooperative's research department, became Group Health Research Institute on September 8, 2009.GHRI is a member of the HMO Research Network.-References:...
, works with institutions such as the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
and the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
. For example, in January 2006, the Center released the results of a study that concluded that regular exercise is associated with a delay in the onset of dementia
Dementia
Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
and Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
.
Group Health Cooperative Medical Library
Group Health Cooperative Medical Library was founded in 1969. As of 2011 it subscribed to 8000 electronic journals and had 400 books. It specializes in allied health professionsAllied health professions
Allied health professions are clinical health care professions distinct from dentistry, nursing and medicine. One estimate reported allied health professionals make up 60 percent of the total health workforce...
, medicine, health maintenance organizations, health administration
Health administration
Health administration or healthcare administration is the field relating to leadership, management, and administration of hospitals, hospital networks, health care systems, and public health systems...
, nursing, and pharmacy.
Preventative care
Group Health is 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 2005. 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.Further reading
- Walt CrowleyWalt CrowleyWalter Charles Crowley was a Washington political celebrity. He first became a public figure in Seattle through his involvement with the social and political movements of the 1960s, especially the underground press...
, To Serve the Greatest Number, University of Washington Press, 1996. The most thorough history published. - Walt Crowley and HistoryLinkHistoryLinkHistoryLink is a website that is an encyclopedia of Washington State history. The site has more than 4,500 stories. There are 500 biographies and more than 14,000 images....
, Group Health Timeline, HistoryLink, 2007. An update and summary of To Serve the Greatest Number.