P2373 SAMUEL POPPER An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society Finding aid prepared by Frank Hennessy Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul MN.

Manuscripts Collection

 Finding aid encoded by Frank Hennessy February 8, 2000Finding aid written inEnglish August 2008Converted from EAD Version 1.0 to Version 2002 by Monica Manny Ralston, Daniel Sher, and Joyce Chapman. OVERVIEW Minnesota Historical Society Popper, Samuel H. Samuel Popper papers. 1960-1990. Papers related to a University of Minnesota professor's 18-year tenure (1962-1980) on the board of directors of one of the largest health maintenance organizations in the Midwest. 1.5 cu. ft. (4 boxes). See Detailed Description for shelf location SCOPE AND CONTENTS

The collection primarily documents management issues dealt with by Group Health Plan's Board of Directors during the 1970s. During this period Samuel Popper served as the Board's chairman (1972-1978) and president (1978-1980). Notable issues include Group Health Plan's overall management structure, the organization's responsiveness to its membership, physician and management relations, compensation and benefit packages, and the delivery of mental health services. A small amount of material pertaining to Popper's involvement as a member of Group Health's Senior Advisory Committee (1984-1989) is also included.

 OTHER FINDING AIDS

A printed version of this inventory is available in the repository; filed as P2373.

 CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics: Health maintenance organizations -- Minnesota -- Administration. Health services administration -- Minnesota -- Employee participation. Medical care -- Minnesota. Physicians -- Minnesota. Patient advocacy -- Minnesota. Mental health services -- Minnesota. Aged -- Minnesota -- Medical care. Organizations: Group Health Inc. (Minneapolis, Minn.). Group Health Plan, inc. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here] Samuel Popper papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples

Accession Information:

Accession number: 15,286; 15,374

 Processing Information:

Processed by: Frank Hennessy, February 2000

Catalog ID number: 09-00321531

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION P2373 1 President's file:

Correspondence, memoranda, committee agendas and minutes, financial data, reports, and printed matter pertaining to Popper's service on the Board of Directors of Group Health Plan (GHP). The bulk of the papers pertain to his term as Board president (1978-1980). Topics include Board of Directors retreats (1978-1980), the selection of Group Health Plan Merit Award recipients, finances including compensation for management and medical staff, public relations, management and physician relations including the creation of the Physicians Association and its recognition by GHP (1978-1979), the passage of three amendments to GHP's articles of incorporation and bylaws (July 27-August 24, 1979), and an organizational audit (1979-1980).

 Correspondence and miscellaneous related papers, undated and 1960-1990. 7 folders. P2373 2 "Review and Assessment of Group Health Plan, Inc.": Arthur D. Little, Inc., 1980. Board of Directors: Minutes, 1972-1974, 1978-1980. 2 folders. Group Health annual members meetings: Programs and miscellaneous printed matter, 1962, 1973-1984. Member Relations Committee, undated and 1972-1974, 1976-1980. 3 folders.

Correspondence, memoranda, minutes, resolutions, complaint logs, reports, and printed matter related to a committee established in June 1972. The committee was formed in response to a proposal made by a group of members concerning the need for GHP to be more responsive to its membership. Samuel Popper was appointed the temporary committee's first chairman. A resolution creating a permanent committee was passed in February 1973 and committee appointments were made in June 1973.

A few of the more prominent committee activities described in the papers include the consideration of expanded membership and open Board of Directors meetings, the implementation of a grievance procedure, publication of a members' handbook and a regular members' publication, development of an ongoing program of health education, and the creation of a member appeals sub-committee (April 1976).

 Nominating Committee, 1974, 1978-1980. P2373 3 Communication and Planning Committee, 1979-1980.

This committee was established in 1975 by the Board of Directors in recognition of the need for input from physicians to promote quality health care. The committee included equal representation of Board members, administrative staff, and medical staff. The members of the committee were initially appointed by the committee chairperson; however, in 1978 Samuel Popper, as chair of the committee, decided that those members elected by the physicians would be appointed to the committee automatically.

The committee worked to address many issues including the rapid growth of GHP, clinic locations, design of medical facilities, earning and benefit packages needed to recruit and retain quality medical staff, and the overall management structure of GHP.

 Mental Health Advisory Committee, March-December 1980. 2 folders.

Correspondence, memoranda, minutes, and reports documenting the work of a committee appointed in March 1980 with the charge of, "... exploring organizational patterns which are associated with, and which characterize, the delivery of mental health services; with particular attention to staffing patterns currently in use in group practice prepayment systems." The committee met nine times between March and October 1980. The committee's final report (October 1980) presents its finding and recommendations to the Board of Directors.

 Medical Director Search Committee, undated and November 1979-November 1980. 2 folders. Dental Director Search Committee, 1980-1981. P2373 4 President Search Committee, April 1981-June 1982. 5 folders. Senior Advisory Committee, 1984-1993.

Samuel Popper served as chairman of this committee from its inception in 1984 until 1989. The committee was comprised of Group Health Seniors and Senior Plus members who served as advisors to GHP. The committee provided insight into how the two health plans were meeting the needs of senior members.