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Nationally-recognized leader hired as Puget Sound Health Alliance Executive Director

The Puget Sound Health Alliance today hired Margaret Stanley, a well-known and respected health professional as its first Executive Director, to lead the Health Alliance in improving the quality of health care in the Puget Sound region.

Ms. Stanley is a nationally recognized individual with wide ranging knowledge of and professional experience with the health care dynamics in the Puget Sound Region. During her nearly 30 year health care career, she has served as the Administrator of the Washington State Health Care Authority, as the Health Benefits Administrator of the California Public Employees' Retirement System, and most recently as an executive at Regence BlueShield.

Throughout her professional career she has worked with all parts of the health care system and demonstrated her commitment to improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of health care through her affiliations and board commitments.

“Margaret Stanley’s record speaks to her dedication in seeking solutions to health care issues in this region and state,” said King County Executive Ron Sims, Chairman of the Health Alliance Board of Directors. “It is our region's good fortune that someone of Ms. Stanley's caliber and commitment is eager to help us lead the visionary and important work of the Health Alliance.”

“I am delighted to be joining the Puget Sound Health Alliance,” said Ms. Stanley. “The Health Alliance will improve health care quality and hold down costs because it has committed purchasers, labor organizations, health plans, health care professionals, and consumers working together to make the quality of health care better in the Puget Sound region.”

The Puget Sound Health Alliance is a new public/private regional organization committed to improving the quality of health care and decreasing its costs in King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. The region’s leading businesses, health plan organizations and governments have joined small businesses, health care professionals, unions, and consumers to participate in developing new approaches for health care in the Puget Sound area.

To date, more than 45 public and private organizations that purchase or provide health care now participate in the Health Alliance, representing approximately 700,000 individuals. (See next page for a list of participating organizations).

King County Executive Ron Sims spearheaded the creation of the Health Alliance following the recommendation of his Health Advisory Task Force (www.metrokc.gov/exec/hatf/). The organization’s goals are to: improve the quality of care; slow the rate of increase in health care expenditures in the Puget Sound region; improve the health outcomes for people; improve consumers’ and health care professionals’ ability to become partners in managing health; and ensure collaborative decision-making based on evidence.

Margaret Stanley can be reached, at 206-824-2228, or 206-484-9911 (cell).

For general information about the Puget Sound Health Alliance visit the Health Alliance’s Web site, at www.pugetsoundhealthalliance.org, or contact Rachel Quinn, at 206-296-4165.