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Visiting Nurse Services of the Northwest, Fisher Communications, American Cancer Society and Free and Clear join Puget Sound Health Alliance

The Puget Sound Health Alliance today announced that four new organizations have joined the organization committed to improving the quality of health care and holding down costs in the Puget Sound area. Joining today are the Visiting Nurse Services of the Northwest (VNS-NW), the American Cancer Society, Fisher Communications and Free and Clear.

The Puget Sound Health Alliance, a regional collaborative initiated by King County Executive Ron Sims, includes public and private employers, health care professionals, health plans and consumers. The 45 organizations participating in the Alliance represent more than 725,000 persons with health insurance throughout King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

“This local, 76 year-old, non-profit organization is honored to participate in the Alliance as one of the leading providers of long-term care services in the Puget Sound region,” states Neal Baum, President & CEO of Visiting Nurse Services of the Northwest. “VNS-NW can provide strategic solutions to cost-effective healthcare services and chronic disease management in collaboration with the members of the Alliance.”

“Fisher Communications, Inc. is pleased to participate in the Puget Sound Health Alliance,” said Laura Boyd vice president, Human Resources. “We believe the Alliance goals of improving health care quality and slowing the rate off increase of health care costs are in the best interests of our employees, our business and our community.”

“The American Cancer Society is dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients as they navigate through the complex healthcare system,” side Linda Henderson, vice president of the American Cancer Society, Puget Sound. “The Puget Sound Health Alliance will enable us to work together with other community leaders toward reducing barriers to quality health care for everyone.”

“Free & Clear is excited to be a member of the PSHA. As a medium-sized employer, we are working to improve the productivity and health of our workforce in a cost-efficient manner,” said Timothy McAfee, MD, MPH is the Chief Medical Officer for Free & Clear, Inc. “We can't accomplish this in a vacuum. It necessitates understanding and influencing the large complex regional healthcare network in Puget Sound. We have been impressed with the emphasis on proactive evidence-based care that includes a focus on upstream contributors to healthcare cost and lost productivity.”

Alliance participants agree to measure and share health care quality data, which will be housed in an information repository containing clinical care treatment guidelines and tools for all members to use. The information sharing will allow members to gain powerful insights into those areas that show scope for improved quality and value. For a complete list of Alliance members, please go to the Alliance's Web site, our participating organizations page.

Please contact Rachel Quinn at 206-296-4165 for more information about the Puget Sound Health Alliance.

This release is also posted on the King County Executive Web site, and the Health Advisory Task Force Web site.