Merger will bring improvements

I’ve been a member of Group Health for 12 years and I strongly support the acquisition of Group Health by Kaiser Permanente. My health care career began with Permanente in California where I worked to assure good access to care and excellent service. I also ran a non-profit, consumer-oriented health plan in Minnesota very much like Group Health.

Kaiser and Group Health pioneered preventive, medicine-oriented health care on the West Coast and their approach to providing care is virtually the same. Our doctors are already part of the Permanente federation. The transition will be smooth. But there will be improvements — more facilities and better access to care. Most importantly, our doctors and health care providers will have the support of a financially robust, non-profit health plan with the resources to significantly improve our systems.

Personally, I most appreciate the fact that Group Health and Kaiser are so much alike. A few years ago while on vacation in Hawaii we took our daughter to Kaiser for urgent care. She received great care that was so much like going to Group Health that it felt the same to me.

My greatest concern is getting excellent care and service for my family. Service was my ambition when I worked for Permanente. Excellent care was my top priority when I ran a consumer health plan and it is my primary concern today. I could not be more pleased to see this opportunity for Group Health members to join the Kaiser Permanente family.

Dave Hallock

Edmonds