This year, Western Washington Medical Group (WWMG) celebrates 30 years serving Snohomish County patients and their families. Still locally owned after three decades, WWMG values being a longstanding part of this community and remains focused on doing what’s best for their patients.
History
WWMG started in Everett in the early 1990s, when several visionary doctors read the writing on the wall. Healthcare was changing. The big players—hospitals and insurance companies—were consolidating. It became clear that local independent healthcare providers needed to band together to successfully navigate the emerging landscape.
With that in mind, a handful of specialists in gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology and general surgery began developing the core organization that in 1993 became Western Washington Medical Group.
Today, WWMG is home to over 100 healthcare providers, offering primary and specialty care at over 25 locations, as well as collaborating with regional entities such as Providence. They’re one of the sole remaining local, independent multi-specialty medical groups in the Puget Sound region.
Dr. David Russian.
Locally-Owned Means Patient-Centered Care
The difference between WWMG and other medical groups is that their providers own and lead the company. Decisions aren’t made by executives from out of state or Wall Street investors. They’re made by the providers themselves, who live in the communities where they serve.
Dr. David Russian, WWMG Pulmonologist and CEO, says: “Providers guiding the group while caring about this community has enabled us consistently to do the right things. We are laser-focused on making sure that our patients get the best possible care.”
Since WWMG began, maintaining a patient-first priority has become more challenging, with the technological and regulatory demands of the government and insurance companies. In addition, the pandemic of the past 3 years has transformed every medical practice.
WWMG has not only navigated successfully through all these upheavals, they have also kept pace with the shifting frontiers of health care, remaining at the forefront of those changes.
Improving Care by Focusing on Population Health
The new era of medicine is population health, explains Dr. Russian, which means “doing the right things for all our patients to keep them healthy. We’ve grown our population health capacities, which allows us to continue delivering world-class, cost-effective care for our patients within the new requirements of the industry.”
Population health prioritizes quality of patient care, disease prevention, and care management for chronic conditions. It has led to more treatments being personalized for patients beyond traditional settings.
Continuing the vision of the group’s founders, WWMG continues to seek ways to adapt and serve patients better as the healthcare market changes and evolves.
Dr. Russian concludes, “I am extremely proud of how we have navigated all these developments in nimble and innovative ways that enable us to take exceptional care of patients. As it has been all along, delivering the best possible patient care continues to be our reason for being.”
Dr. Lindstrom with a pediatric patient.
