Step back and take it all in. You’re making great things happen.
October 21, 2010
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Dr. Michael Soman, Dr. Barbara Detering, Marc West, Dr. Steve Tarnoff, and Dr. Paul Sherman spoke at the AMGA’s 2010 Institute for Quality Leadership. Our team did a wonderful job telling our story—the struggles and successes—and we’ve already been asked to share the presentation with other audiences around the country. |
In the last issue of Open Mike we had just learned that we had won the 2010 Acclaim Award from the American Medical Group Association. That was only a few weeks ago, and much has happened since.
To start, we developed an affiliation agreement with The Everett Clinic. This was on our minds as GHP’s Board and leadership joined 600 other medical groups at AMGA’s Institute for Quality Leadership meeting in Florida at the end of September.
We were there to accept the Acclaim Award, which was humbling, validating, and exciting all at once. We were also asked to talk about the amazing body of work you have achieved over the last seven years.
However, the bulk of the conference in Florida was about Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs): how are organizations like ours going to create the delivery system reform that is needed to actually bend the cost trends and assure the access and quality that are so inconsistently delivered to our citizens?
I pondered our role in Washington state’s upcoming ACO pilot project—and the freshly-signed agreement with The Everett Clinic as I listened to The Permanente Federation’s Dr. Jack Cochran, and Mayo Health System’s Dr. Robert Neese talk about "leading the journey to an ACO."
Jack Cochran shared a memorable quote from Dr. Jonas Salk, "Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestors." And from Dr. Neese, “The future of health care will focus on needs of the patient.”
Even more thought-provoking: "Becoming an ACO is a tactic—what is the strategy?"
Our strategy is affordable excellence. And because our goals are sustainable growth, high quality, affordability, and fully engaged staff—we’re on the right path pursuing affiliations with The Everett Clinic and others. Affiliations are among our next steps in “leading the journey” to creating the delivery systems that can deliver for the citizens of our state.
Why it’s right for us and our future
An organization can never go wrong investing in operational excellence. Our steadily climbing national quality rankings and HEDIS scores prove it; the AMGA Acclaim Award validates it; The Everett Clinic values it; and 35,000 new patients joining our Group Practice since January 2007 get to experience it.
We’ve had great success with a relatively “closed” model for over 60 years. Now we are widely noticed—both in the region and around the country. At every conference I've been to this year, health care leaders see that integrated systems, with incentives in the right place, are how the future will be structured.
So we’re creating business allies around strategic needs, opportunity, common values, shared medical management principles, and an ability to learn from each other. It’s not about short-term gain; on the other hand it could be our path into the next six-plus decades.
There is a tremendous amount of activity like this in the market, and now Group Health has leverage like it’s never had before. The GHP Board, the GHC Board, Scott Armstrong and I have been examining patterns and trends for years, and we are ready to take on this unprecedented opportunity.
Thank you for all you have done to bring us to this unique moment in time. The acclaim is yours.
President and Chief Medical Executive
Read Dr. Soman's latest Open Mike article.
- 2012
- | 2011
- | 2010
What if the “new normal” doesn’t feel normal at all, for many years? I try to remind myself and others that the current turmoil in health care is driven by market forces—not politics—and can only be solved by directly addressing the market. Our “new normal” is all about reaching across silos to work with partners in new ways.
Business problem? Diagnose it.
03/21/2012
I’m about halfway through my 2012 clinical immersion. When I tried this last year it was new for all of us, and it felt right to start our conversations around values. This year I'm trying to dig a little deeper.
What will your legacy be? 02/24/2012
What a night! It felt terrific to see over 700 clinicians and special guests at the GHP Annual Meeting on February 15. “A Legacy of Leadership” was our theme for the evening, touching on our shared past, present, and future.
Only nine Medicare Advantage plans in the country earned 5 stars overall, and Group Health Cooperative’s Medicare Advantage plan is one of them!
Looking back, and ahead: reflections on my first three years 9/17/2011
The last three years have passed quickly, largely because I’ve had such an amazing group of people to work with. What you’re capable of no longer surprises me. It inspires me.
Our people are our culture, and we’re constantly evolving 8/17/2011
One thing I’ve noticed since my last Q&A on Group Health culture with Scott Armstrong is that conversations like ours are spreading.
More than elbow room 7/6/2011
Growth is a good problem to have in turbulent economic times. But as I’ve heard in medical staff business meetings and conversations, growth is hard on daily life at work.
Erikson and Soman on partnership and growth 6/15/2011
Sustaining growth isn’t about Michael and I being leaders; it’s about teams of seasoned, excellent colleagues and leaders and clinical teams. We both have tremendous confidence in them.
The good, the bad and everything in between 5/11/2011
I went all over the state in March, talking with small groups of GHP physicians and other clinicians about critical issues.
Why are we here? 3/23/2011
Easily eight out of ten of you mention that our philosophy of medicine—the way we practice—drew you here. And paired with the people and relationships in your workplaces, it’s a major thing that keeps you here.
Culture at Group Health: 7 questions for Scott & Michael 3/9/2011
Scott and I kicked off some fresh thinking about culture and respect for people at our Leadership Conference about five weeks ago. Recently, we sat down to check in with each other about it.
Put some passion in your workplace 2/17/2011
What satisfies you, motivates you, or makes you want to tell your friends and family about your day? Do you know how your co-workers would answer these questions? Talk to each other to learn from each other.
Sometimes growth don't feel like it should 1/28/2011
We know that taking on new patients—and engaging them in their own good health—takes time. But it’s what’s unique and important about our kind of medicine.
About 350 leaders from the Group Practice and throughout Group Health gathered for the Group Practice Annual Fall Forum on November 12.
Demystifying clinical integration
11/3/2010
Clinical integration is the key, so let’s define what that phrase means.
Group Health sees a big jump in NCQA private plan rankings 9/22/2010
Group Health is one of the highest rated health plans and among the top 50 in the nation, according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
Innovation is where we shine 9/8/2010
I am very excited to share that the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) has honored our work with its 2010 Acclaim Award.
Notes from the Colorado Health Symposium 8/11/2010
During the last week of July I traveled to the Colorado Health Foundation’s annual symposium in Keystone, CO.
Measuring up 7/28/2010
Quality. Ask a hundred people to define it, and you’ll get a hundred answers.
The risk and opportunity of Accountable Care Organizations
6/30/2010
Shared values, physician-led care models, and aligned incentives can bridge the distance between organizations in the world of accountable care.
Let’s start a conversation about our workplace 4/4/2010
People are our most important resource, our “secret sauce.”
Decreasing “unwarranted” variation in clinical care 3/24/2010
As you read this, we are in the midst of unprecedented reform to our national health care system.
Making the transition from “I” to “we”
2/10/2010
Last night the Group Health Permanente Annual Meeting left me feeling inspired and confident.
Looking ahead to 2010 1/13/2010
First, for 2010, our goal is as follows: We will lead the top delivery system in the state.
