FOR VISITORS

• HOME

• About Group Health
  • Overview
  • Leadership
  • Quality and Patient Safety
  • Member Participation
  • Community Involvement
• Health Plans
• Doctors & Health Care Services
• Medical Facilities
• Pharmacy Services
• Health & Wellness Resources
• Group Health Foundation
• Northwest Health Magazine
• Continuing Medical Education
• Classes & Events
• Newsroom
• Customer Service
• Careers

• For Members
• For Producers
• For Employers
• For Contracted Providers

Group Health Provides Medical Expertise at 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships

Group Health served as the official medical sponsor of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Jan. 14-24 in Spokane. Competitors were vying to represent the United States at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, B.C.

Organizers of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships say the 10-day event drew a record 158,170 fans to the Spokane Arena. The Spokesman-Review reports that broke the record set when the 2007 championships were held in Spokane. There were 9,082 ticketed fans for Sunday's finale. Group Health was medical sponsor for the 2007 championships, which broke all attendance records for the national championship competition.

As the medical sponsor, our medical team provided 1,400 hours of staff time, working from the first practices at 6 a.m. until after midnight, for 11 days and 10 nights, treating skaters, coaches, and officials for anything from sprains and bruises to colds and flu. We also contributed medical supplies and medications.

Group Health doctors Ed Reisman and Alisa Hideg served as medical director and assistant medical director, respectively. Reisman, of Riverfront Medical Center Urgent Care, is a former competitive pairs figure skater who has volunteered many hours as the team doctor for U.S. Figure Skating at competitions around the world. Hideg, a family medicine practioner at Veradale Medical Center, is a past amateur ice skater and hockey skater. Read more about Reisman and Hideg

For this event, we partnered with Spokane's best medical providers and hospitals. Our medical staff also was joined by 14 students from Whitworth University and Eastern Washington University, who were onhand to gain real life experience with athletic injuries.

Spokane Mayor Mary Verner predicted the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships would be the biggest sporting event staged in Spokane. We are proud to be a key player, both in 2007 and 2010.

At Group Health, our focus is better health for our patients and communities. One way we do this is by supporting health and fitness events and activities in the areas we serve. In addition to sponsoring the Bellevue Ice Arena and Spokane's Riverfront Ice Palace, the Group Health Foundation sponsored admission for 5th and 6th graders from seven Spokane schools on Jan. 15. They cheered on the junior men's short skate program and received goodie bags filled with pom-poms in their school colors, free passes to the Riverfront Park Ice Palace, and healthy snacks.

"Many of these children have never stepped foot inside the arena for an event, let alone been able to see world-class athletes competing in our nation's most prestigious figure skating event," said Peter Ellis, Spokane Public Schools' coordinator of fitness and health.

"Not only has Group Health provided tickets for this event, but they've committed their doctors, physical therapists, and nutritionists to spend time in the schools promoting healthy living. Together with Spokane Schools, Group Health is demonstrating a community effort to educate kids for a lifetime of health," said Ellis.