Making Health Care Easier

Long waits to see your doctor, hours of missed work, coverage uncertainties, lack of access to your own medical records — sometimes it's frustrating just getting the basics.

We believe there's a powerful connection between access to health care and better health — and at Group Health we’re helping our members make that connection. Today, our members have more ways than ever to get the care and information they need — at their convenience.

All members can call a consulting nurse after hours with a concern. They can go online to refill prescriptions, check their benefits, join discussion groups, and access the online Healthwise® Knowledgebase, which contains articles on more than 5,000 health topics. Members who receive care at Group Health facilities also can book appointments with specialists before they leave their own doctor’s office — even self-refer in many cases — and log on to MyGroupHealth to exchange secure messages with their doctor, check lab results, and read summaries of doctors’ visits and other parts of their medical record.

In 2006, 41 percent of our adult members used MyGroupHealth's online services, among the highest online use in the health care industry. And 20 percent of our members' encounters with their physicians are now online. As online use has increased, so has member satisfaction.

When health care is more accessible, people are more informed, more engaged, and more likely to deal with health care problems before they become serious. That's good for our members, our purchasers, and the communities we serve.