We Americans have chosen to leave 47 million of our citizens without health coverage. We have chosen to rank 37th in infant mortality and 46th in life expectancy. And the good news? We can choose to change all of this.

We can start by telling ourselves a long-ignored truth: America's health care "system" isn't one; it's a chaotic non-system. Almost nothing is integrated. Even elements that excel by themselves do not work effectively with each other. Health care delivery is inequitable, inefficient, and each year more costly — all because we are not working together.

Honest collaboration is the only path to real solutions. So in the spirit of partnership, I offer several stories from Group Health physician leaders that I want to share with you.

These examples illustrate the potential of Group Health's uncommon model: integrating both health care and medical coverage within the same organization. Instead of the profit-driven incentives exacerbating the national crisis, our system allows physicians, researchers, and staff to use scientific evidence, clinical savvy, and system connectivity to improve quality, reduce costs, and enhance the patient experience.

I believe there are lessons here for us all. My hope is we can learn together, and together become the change we seek.

By Scott Armstrong, president and
chief executive officer, Group Health Cooperative

Also See: Invitation from the CEO