What Makes Us Different?

We believe that working together is the best way to find solutions for better health. It's part of our legacy and our culture-started more than 65 years ago when a community coalition of doctors and patients in Seattle joined together to pioneer a new kind of health care.

We Answer to Those We Serve

This is a place where members and patients have a say in their health care. Our all-member Board of Trustees, which is responsible for the direction and performance of Group Health, guarantees that patient needs-not shareholder earnings-are always front and center. And management listens, because even the CEO is accountable to the member Board.

Doctors and Administrators Work Together

Physicians and clinicians here have an equal role in the organization. They oversee every aspect of clinical care and quality, and serve as partners with plan administrators at every level.

It's a big reason doctors are so eager to come here. In private practice doctors can only treat you when you are ill. At Group Health, they also work with the health plan side to promote prevention and develop programs that will keep you healthier. It's a win-win for everyone, lowering overall costs and keeping your care more affordable.

We're All in This Together

Working for the greater good is an ongoing mission at Group Health. We're constantly striving to make this a healthier world for everybody.

The Group Health Research Institute's (GHRI) nonproprietary research contributes to improvements in health and health care practice worldwide, with nearly 250 studies published annually in prestigious journals. Federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide 82 percent of GHRI's annual budget.

• Group Health Research Institute

The Group Health Foundation, with support from more than 5,500 annual donors, helps transform ideas for health care improvements into breakthroughs in patient care for our members and beyond.

• Group Health Foundation

We also give back to the community by educating health professionals through residency programs, student training, continuing medical education, and conferences we sponsor. Many of our clinicians hold teaching positions in local colleges and universities. Others volunteer medical and nursing services at local clinics, community events, and even overseas through Group Health Global Health.

Our support of community fitness events has raised visibility and regional participation in cycling events, walk/runs, and triathlons around the state-and, more recently, youth camps with Seattle Sounders, Seattle Storm, and Pacific Northwest Ballet.