Group Health names James Hereford new Group Practice executive VP

James Hereford will be Group Health Cooperative’s new executive vice president of its Group Practice Division, Group Health announced Thursday.

The position oversees Group Health’s 26 Medical Centers in Washington and North Idaho.

Hereford is a 17-year veteran of Group Health and is currently executive vice president for Strategic Services & Quality, where he has overseen advances in Group Health’s electronic medical records and targeting care quality goals.

He will be replacing Peter Morgan, who recently announced his retirement as executive vice president of the Group Practice Division, effective January 1, Group Health said.

Hereford is on the faculty of the University of Washington’s Master of Health Administration program, and a member of several organizations and boards, including the Healthcare Value Leaders Network, the Center for Information Therapy, One Health Port, and the Greater Seattle YMCA. He’s also chair of the Washington State Health Care Authority Health Information Infrastructure Advisory Board.