| Massage Eases Anxiety, But No Better Than Simple Relaxation |
| Mar 8, 2010 — A new randomized trial found massage to be no more effective than simple relaxation in a room alone with soft, soothing music. |
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| Hospitalization Linked to Cognitive Decline in Seniors |
| Feb 22, 2010 — Older patients hospitalized for acute care or a critical illness are more likely to experience cognitive decline compared to older adults who are not hospitalized. |
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| Severe Diabetes Complications Higher in Depressed Patients |
| Jan 28, 2010 — Depression raises risks of advanced and severe complications from diabetes, according to a prospective study of Group Health primary care patients in Western Washington. |
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| Higher Opioid Dose Linked to Overdose Risk in Chronic Pain Patients |
| Jan 14, 2010 — A new study links risk of fatal and nonfatal opioid overdose to prescription use, strongly associating the risk with the prescribed dose. |
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| Improved Scheduling and Billing Statements |
| Jan 7, 2010 — Making Group Health appointments online now is faster and billing statements are easier to read. |
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| Group Health Names New Group Practice Executive VP |
| Dec 17, 2009 — Group Health has selected James Hereford to be executive vice president of the Group Practice Division, which encompasses Group Health’s 26 Medical Centers in Washington and North Idaho. |
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| GHRI's Larson Co-Authors JAMA Editorial on Dementia |
| Dec 13, 2009 — Two new studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association point to the need for a broader scientific perspective on late-life dementia, according to an editorial in the same issue co-authored by Eric Larson, executive director of Group Health Research Institute. |
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| Depression Does Not Negatively Affect Weight Loss |
| Dec 1, 2009 — Women with major depression were no less likely than were women without it to have successful results with a weight loss program. Showing up for a weight loss program matters most, according to this Group Health study. |
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| Aging and Dementia Study Renewed With $12 Million Grant |
| Nov 19, 2009 — A joint project between Group Health Research Institute and the University of Washington focuses on finding ways to delay or prevent dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, and declines in memory and thinking. |
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| Group Health Medicare Ranked Tops by U.S. News and World Report |
| Nov 13, 2009 — U.S. News & World Report and the National Committee for Quality Assurance have ranked Group Health Cooperative's Medicare plan as among the best in the nation. |
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| Group Health Honored With eValue8 Health Plan Innovation Award |
| Nov 10, 2009 — The National Business Coalition on Health honored Group Health with one of two 2009 eValue8 Health Plan Innovation Awards. |
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| Group Health Drops Medicare Rates by As Much As 77 Percent |
| Oct 22, 2009 — Group Health has significantly reduced premium rates for its Medicare Advantage members. The new rates go into effect Jan. 1, 2010. |
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| Group Health Offers New Medicare Plans in Five Washington Counties |
| Oct 22, 2009 — Group Health is offering two new Medicare Advantage plans in Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties in Central Washington, and in the eastern parts of Clallam and Jefferson counties on the Kitsap Peninsula. Consumers may sign up for the plans Nov.15, 2009 through the end of the year. Coverage will start Jan.1, 2010. |
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| Study Finds Domestic Violence Leads to Many Health Problems |
| Oct 13, 2009 — Women abused by intimate partners suffer higher rates of a wide variety of doctor-diagnosed medical maladies compared to women who were never abused, according to a new study of more than 3,000 women at Group Health. |
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| GHRI Receives $16 Million in Federal Funding for Cancer Research |
| Oct 5, 2009 — Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Group Health Research Institute and the University of Washington schools of Public Health and Pharmacy have been selected to lead four projects backed by approximately $16 million in federal stimulus funding for comparative-effectiveness research in cancer. |
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| Phone Therapy for Depression Found Cost-Effective |
| Oct 5, 2009 — Brief, structured, phone-based cognitive behavioral psychotherapy administrered soon after starting antidepressant medications is showing significant cost and behavioral benefits that may persist for two years. |
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| Group Health Research Institute Awarded $15 Million in ARRA Grants |
| Oct 5, 2009 — Group Health Research Institute will receive more than $15 million in federal stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Institute was awarded 52 percent of the ARRA dollars for which it applied, a high rate of success for any competitive awards. |
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| Medical Home Produces Better Care at No Added Cost |
| Sep 1, 2009 — A one-year evaluation at Group Health Cooperative is the first to demonstrate the measurable benefit to both patients and staff when a primary care practice adopts a patient-centered medical home model. |
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| Group Health, Unions to Test-Drive 'Total Health' Incentive Program |
| Aug 13, 2009 — Group Health Cooperative and six unions have completed negotiations for a unique health benefits program that encourages preventive care and includes an incentive program for lowering health costs. |
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| Group Health Researchers to Test H1N1 Flu Vaccine |
| Jul 22, 2009 — Scientists at Group Health Research Institute are set to begin a series of clinical trials to gather critical data about influenza vaccines, including two candidate H1N1 flu vaccines. |
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| Commonwealth Fund Points to Continuous Innovation at Group Health |
| Jun 24, 2009 — A Commonwealth Fund case study notes that Group Health Cooperative is structured with incentives aligned |
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| Primary Care "Medical Home" Pilot Shows That Investing in Care Pays for Itself |
| Jun 18, 2009 — An evaluation of recent innovations in delivering primary care at a Group Health Cooperative medical center shows significant success and rapid return on investment. The data led to a decision to invest in these best practices in all of Group Health’s 26 medical centers by 2010. |
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| Group Health Awarded $1 Million for Depression Research |
| Jun 3, 2009 — The National Institute of Mental Health has awarded the Group Health Center for Health Studies a $1 million stimulus grant to research more effective treatment for depression. |
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| Break From Hormone Therapy Doesn't Improve Mammograms |
| Jun 3, 2009 — Taking a short break from hormones doesn't actually lower the risk of being called back for unncecessary extra breast imaging, according to the first large-scale randomized controlled trial to address the question. |
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| Acupuncture Eases Chronic Low-Back Pain in SPINE Trial |
| May 11, 2009 — Acupuncture can help people with chronic low back pain feel less bothered by their symptoms and function better in their daily activities. |
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| Group Health Doctor Named Physician of the Year |
| May 5, 2009 — Washington Academy of Family Physicians honored Dr. Bill Sayres, MD, clinical director at Group Health Riverfront Medical Center, as Washington Family Physician of the Year. |
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| Group Health Center for Health Studies to Test Vaccine |
| Apr 30, 2009 — Group Health Center for Health Studies' Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit will be involved in testing the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine for the newly discovered swine flu virus. |
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| Swine Flu Outbreak: Group Health Responds |
| Apr 26, 2009 — Group Health is working with state, local, and federal agencies to understand and limit the spread of the swine flue virus. A team headed by David Grossman, MD, preventive care chief, is reviewing the local and national situation daily to make sure that Group Health can respond appropriately. |
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| Pain Relievers Appear Ineffective in Preventing Alzheimer's |
| Apr 20, 2009 — A new study shows that pain relievers do not prevent Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Instead, the risk of developing dementia was higher among heavy users. |
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| Former AARP Exec Joins Group Health as VP of Marketing |
| Apr 20, 2009 — Group Health Cooperative has named Lin MacMaster as vice president of Marketing. She served most recently as senior managing director of Member Experience at AARP. |
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