Open Mike is the online newsletter of Dr. Michael Soman, President and Chief Medical Executive of Group Health Permanente. Topics covered include news and events at Group Health, issues relevant to the medical community, and patient compliments to our clinicians.

Open Mike - August 11, 2010

• Michael’s Message: Notes from the Colorado Health Symposium
• The time is right to do business as Group Health Physicians
• What do you value? Join the GHP strategy conversation
• Nominate colleagues for Group Health Permanente’s Annual Awards
• Reminder: Tomorrow’s Medical Leaders nominations due Sept. 1

Open Mike - July 28, 2010

• Michael’s Message: Measuring up
• Thoughtful use of powerful tools creates better health
• Tacoma residency for doctors of optometry earns national accreditation
• Kaye Kvam, PA-C, named Distinguished Fellow by the American Academy of Physician Assistants
• Patient thanks a ‘caring, committed, knowledgeable health care team’ that relieved her pain, helped her feel heard
• Nominate Tomorrow's Medical Leaders by September 1

Open Mike - June 30, 2010

• Michael’s Message: The risk and opportunity of Accountable Care Organizations
• ACOs and the quest for sustainability—what’s ahead?
• GHP Board Perspective: Checking new ideas against our mission and values
• 24-hour phone line for contracted physicians makes Spokane and Coeur d’Alene clinicians easy to reach
• Soman to represent Group Health at prestigious Colorado Health Symposium
• In Memoriam: Abraham I. Schweid, MD

Open Mike - June 16, 2010

• Michael’s Message: honest, open exchanges move us forward
• Safe transitions for high-stakes patients: a conversation with skilled nurse practitioners
• Occupational Health Services first in state to win NAOHP award

Open Mike - May 4, 2010

• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: From knowing to showing
• EDHI is driving down hospital readmissions
• Health Affairs: Medical Home proven to boost quality, curb costs
• Salute our nurses and their role in healthy outcomes
• Members or not, injured workers welcome here
• Dr. Robert Martensen reflects on illness in a high-tech era
• PS: A clarification about a life-saving team effort at Bellevue

Open Mike - April 7, 2010

• Reflections from theAMGA annual conference
• Senior Caucus Spring Meeting

Open Mike - March 24, 2010

• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: Decreasing 'unwarranted' variation
• New tools empower patients to make decisions
• Patient saved on Bellevue Medical Center sidewalk
• Partner hospital notices our end-of-life care
• Group Health’s reputation stronger than ever

Open Mike - February 24, 2010

• MICHAEL’S MESSAGE: Understanding the work of the GHP Board
• Doctor to Doctor: Stories from the earthquake aftermath
• GHP Annual Meeting draws record attendance to cap an amazing year
• Neurosurgeon's extra efforts lauded by colleague

Open Mike - February 10, 2010

• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: Making the transition from 'I' to 'we'
• Top clinicians join Group Health: Vacant positions at all-time low
• GHP honors medical and service leaders
• Patients respond to birthday letters

Open Mike - January 13, 2010

• Looking Ahead to 2010
• One of Group Health's own 'making a difference'
• Steve Duncan elected Pierce County Medical Society president
• New, improved videoconference series features new speakers, topics

Open Mike - December 16, 2009

• MESSAGE FROM MICHAEL: Reflections on a tumultuous year
• Group Practice delivers change in 2009
• Project Access thanks Group Health for donated care
• Please help us find highly motivated patients
• P.S. from Michael: Welcome, James

Open Mike - November 11, 2009

• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: Healing the Healer—Understanding physician impairment
• Veterans Day sentiments from Michael
• EDHI and the tale of the green dot
• Dr. Deb Harper’s vision for Washington State Medical Association
• Patient recommendations power ‘Favorite Doctor’ list

Open Mike - October 30, 2009

• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: To my friend Peter Morgan
• Group Health climbs the chart in diabetes eye care quality
• Toy stethoscope, fake syringe…but something’s missing
• Patients love Ralph Stumbo
• Life-affirming care is at the heart of philanthropy

Open Mike - October 1, 2009

• Everett Urgent Care: A journey toward better service
• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: Politics as usual or meaningful change?
• Support from home--and colleagues--kept spirits up in Iraq
• Group Health Family Medicine Residency gets 'seal of approval'
• Wife applauds Tacoma medical staff for husband's superb care

Open Mike - September 17, 2009

• MESSAGE FROM MICHAEL: It's not about Lean
• New Health & Wellness Resources on ghc.org
• Join GHP for “Healing the Healer" forum
• More than 15 minutes of fame

Open Mike - August 20, 2009

• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: Days and nights of the Roundtable
• New tools round out EPIC for better patient service
• Are health coops the way to go?
• Patient extols virtues of online services
• Promoting healthier mother-baby bonds

Open Mike - August 7, 2009

• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: Finding Excellence in Everett
• Head’s Up: New law aims to prevent successive concussions
• Group Health birthday letters bring gift of good health
• The list goes on: Still more 'Top Docs' at Group Health
• Blending clinical, technical to create better care
• Time can't dim memory of Dr. Robert Thompson, Mike Syputa
• New Online CME

Open Mike - July 9, 2009

• 'Top Docs' List Top-Heavy with GHP physicians
• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: Physician’s voice is missing in path to health reform
• Media focus on Group Health continues amidst health care debate
• Health care reform: Videoconference describes how you can help
• David Arterburn quoted in JAMA article on shared decision making

Open Mike - June 25, 2009

• Leaving Japan, Learning Lean, Leading Anew
• Teens facing pregnancy get support--and respect--from unique clinic
• After a decade of attention, preventable harm still deadly, costly
• Graduates from near and far gather as residency program turns 40
• Dr. Bruce Smith named new Medical Director, Group Health Hospice
• Soman, Tarnoff lead videoconference on health reform--July 9, noon
• Commonwealth cites GHC as peak-performing delivery system

Open Mike - May 28, 2009

• Superstar award honors lab assistant Jez Scott
• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: Marshmallows, medicine, and news from Gallup
• Living Well with Chronic Conditions: Online patient-led tools from CHS
• Free & Clear enjoys best year—helps 1400 patients kick nicotine habit
• Tacoma event spotlights expertise of Group Health specialists
• GHP recruiter gratified by physicians' top-flight care

Open Mike - May 8, 2009

• Group Health's H1N1 response—lessons in passing
• Clinical pharmacists receive 2009 annual Birnbaum Award
• Nurses Week tribute: Visit site to honor Group Health's North stars
• Unique online diabetes course replaces Right Track notebook
• Nurse finds compassionate, skillful attention--from the patient's view

Open Mike - March 27, 2009

• Social workers help patients 'become their best selves'
• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: With a new vision, we can curb medical errors
• The 2009 'Top Docs' season begins: a solid start with more to come
• PLD bridges chasm between practitioner, communicator
• Prostate cancer screening—worth the risk?
• State honors Dimer with 'Winds Beneath My Feet' Award

Open Mike - March 12, 2009

• Questions from near and far stoke health care debate
• Upcoming forum addresses how to achieve culture where safety reigns
• ‘Superstar’ Award honors radiology tech Megiveron
• Group Health program supports new Death With Dignity Law
• Patient salutes a variety of practitioners in appreciation for valuable care

Open Mike - February 13, 2009

• Annual Meeting joins old friends in new call to action
• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: Annual Meeting address to the shareholders
• Death with Dignity begins March 4; physicians can opt out, but refer
• Catherine Gardner, Josh Rohr score points through compassionate care
• Four GHP physicians receive new subspecialty certifications

Open Mike - January 29, 2009

• Group Health team brings aid, hope to Rwanda's poor
• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: Remarks to Leadership Conference on January 20
• Look back at MUM—one of GHC’s most forward-facing innovations
• New educational videos released to help patients make informed decisions

Open Mike - December 31, 2008

• New tools streamline access to clinical knowledge
• Snowed in but Looking Out: Finding Promise in the Bright New Year
• Spreading the word about Medical Home inspires residency directors
• Dr. Christopher Garlitz earns praise from a tough customer

Open Mike - December 18, 2008

• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: A Year Unlike Any Other - Beginning Again Together
• Death with Dignity: Group readies response to I-1000
• Foundation donors support innovations developed by care teams in service of patients
• Jun Zamora, RN, guides patient and his family through painful time

Open Mike - November 20, 2008

• Group Health leads the field in PSHA Community Checkup
• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: Cyberspace can't top spark of human connection
• Quality and Informatics group welcomes visits, subscriptions to blog
• Dr. Tom Lindquist honored with distinguished ophthalmology prize
• Dr. David Grossman addresses participants in county disaster exercise
• Dr. Brian Budenholzer to speak at Virginia Mason's 2008 Annual Meeting
• Center for Health Studies 25th anniversary celebration coming up Dec. 3

Open Mike - November 7, 2008

• PA Donna Kentley faces violence of war with compassion
• MICHAEL'S MESSAGE: Lessons from Tuesday and a look into the future
• Nurse practitioners bring depth, perspective to wide spectrum of patients
• Decision support can help staunch unnecessary high-end imaging tests
• Voters pass death with dignity law; group to study clinicians' roles
• Ranking in national magazine affirms Group Health's model of care