New Questions for All Group Health Patients

The next time you make an appointment or check in for a visit, our staff may ask you some new questions about your race, ethnicity, and the language you prefer to use when communicating with your doctor.

Also see: We Ask Because We Care FAQs

Your Answers Are Voluntary and Private

You do not have to answer these questions. We want to assure you that your information will be kept private. To learn more about how we protect your information, see our Privacy Policy.

Caring for Our Communities

Group Health will use this information to learn more about the health needs of the communities we serve — and to design programs to meet those needs.

Your information will help us:

• Track the quality of care by specific groups to improve quality of health care.
• Identify any gaps in care. If there are gaps, create innovative ways to reduce those gaps and improve the care we provide to all our patients.
• Design services that meet the cultural and linguistic needs of our patients.
• Improve health literacy so that patients can better communicate with their health care team and have active roles in their health care.

Quality Care for All Patients

Group Health is one of many health care organizations in the Northwest region and country working to ensure all patients — regardless of race, ethnicity, or preferred language — receive the best care possible. An estimated 82 percent of hospitals currently collect data on their patients' race and ethnicity, and 67 percent collect data about their patients' primary language*.

*Source: Health Research and Educational Trust, 2009