About WSHA

The first hospital in the Pacific Northwest was founded in 1858 at Fort Vancouver in the Washington Territory.  With the support of 16 women, whose husbands were employed by the Hudson Bay Company, Mother Joseph of the Sisters of Providence established the hospital in a small cabin.  Care was provided regardless of ability to pay.  Mother Joseph periodically visited the logging and mining camps nearby to raise funds.  Today, there are 98 community hospitals in Washington State. 

The Washington State Hospital Association is a membership organization representing   community hospitals and several health-related organizations.  The association provides issues management and analysis, information, advocacy and other services.  Most recently, the membership developed the Health Work Force Institute to expand the labor work force for health institutions, and in 2005 launched the Patient Safety program to help hospitals improve patient safety by supporting the adoption of common, evidence-based protocols that have been proven to save lives.  WSHA works to improve the health of the people of the state by becoming involved in all matters affecting the delivery, quality, accessibility, affordability and continuity of health care. 

As health care continues to be of vital importance for our communities, the mission of the state's first hospital and those that followed continues to be stronger than ever....
We care for the people who need us.