Welcoming Group Health to Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente has completed the acquisition of Group Health Cooperative in Washington and I am honored to welcome our 651,000 members, more than 6,000 employees and more than 1,000 physicians to the Kaiser Permanente family.

I am tremendously proud of the work that our two organizations have done to get to this point. Our employees have worked diligently and tirelessly to keep our members and patients at the center of all we do while keeping an eye toward our goal of being the top choice for combined care and coverage across the nation.

So, what does this acquisition mean?

First, it brings Kaiser Permanente’s high-quality, affordable and accessible health care to 19 more counties in Washington, with 25 primary care clinics in 17 cities, three urgent care facilities and four outpatient surgery centers. It also means more modern facilities and technology, and improved care and service as Kaiser Permanente is investing $1 billion over the next 10 years.

It means you’ll see Kaiser Permanente engaged as an active and energetic partner in Washington as we invest time and resources to help communities here achieve total health for everyone — just as we do in every community we serve.

It means that after decades of collaboration, these two organizations — with similar histories of innovating care delivery and shaping health policy — will build upon a legacy of health care leadership in Washington state.

As president of our new Washington region, I see and feel a collective excitement for what we will achieve in the months and years ahead. I feel honored, both personally and professionally, that I am a part of this success, and grateful to work with people who share a passion for improving health care. Our employees, physicians and clinicians are smart, compassionate, creative people, who are eager to make a difference. We’re all working to ensure the best possible health care and coverage for the people and communities in Washington. And the first step of that journey has now begun.