Letters to the Editor

From Our Readers

The Permanente Journal,

As I was perusing the latest issue of the Journal, I looked at the photos of the authors and noted a wide range of ages, including one retired physician. It reminded me of Hawaii Permanente Medical Group (HPMG) and the range of ages of its physicians. I joined HPMG in 1968, when the group was nine years old, and worked with many of the original members. I learned just how difficult it was to start the group in a very hostile environment. Years later, after I had retired, I met with the Executive Committee of the group and learned that the present physicians had no idea of the history of HPMG--they had never heard of Phil Chu, who was the first president of the group and who held it together during the first troubled years--and just assumed that history began with their arrival! We then began to interview the early pioneers and put this all together in a 37-minute history of the group--not the Health Plan but only of the group. We had about 4-1/2 hours of tape to edit and now have a permanent record of the first five years of HPMG. The video was completed by a professional video production company about ten months ago and is (I hope) on file in the HPMG president's office and (again, I hope) is being used in orientation of physicians who are new to HPMG.

The point is: How many young physicians of the other Permanente groups have any idea of the early history of their group? It is a shame if they don't.

Thank you,
Arg Bacon, MD
Honolulu, HI

--Reply

Thank you for your letter. Speaking for the Northwest, I want to tell you about a history project to accomplish just what you suggest Permanente physicians should do about their history. Six months ago, the NWP Emeritus Physician Group undertook writing a book about the history of the NW medical group, led by emeritus physicians Ian MacMillan and Harvey Klevitt. This July several of us toured the original Permanente Foundation Hospital built by Dr Ernie Sayward, the first NW Regional Medical Director, and Henry Kaiser in Vancouver, Washington, near the shipyards. The emeritus group will capture from the earliest NWP history up through the eighties for all current and future physicians to learn from.

Editor

Dr Janisse,

Having published an article in your very first edition of The Permanente Journal, I have watched it grow and mature into a fabulous journal. The content of your Summer 2002 issue was simply stunning. Great clinical content, human interest, art, quotations, and book reviews. This is absolutely world-class, and it fills me with pride to be part of a group that can produce this work. Please, if you have a spare minute, forward my compliments to all who work on this wonderful journal.

Thanks so much,
John Davenport, MD, JD
Physician Director, Primary Care Service Line
Chief, Department of Family Medicine, Orange County Market Service Area, SCPMG

The Permanente Journal,

I just read your article on physician retention. (Summer 2002) It is terrific! I have been a health care recruiter for 25 years. The article is one of the best I've seen.

Sue Cejka
Senior Client Partner
Healthcare Services

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