The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) and the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) announced today the launch of a joint task force to develop solutions to address the growing opioid epidemic, with an eye towards ways physicians and hospitals can play a more active role in tackling this issue.... Read More >>
In an op-ed published by the Seattle Times on Thursday, Cassie Sauer, WSHA's Executive Vice President, talks about the need for continued reform to our state's mental health system.... Read More >>
Newly-appointed Western State Hospital CEO Cheryl Strange is facing possible jail time for refusing to comply with a court order to admit a particular patient currently being served through single bed certification at a WSHA member hospital. Strange said she wouldn’t override the hospital’s waiting list, where other patients who are sicker have priority.... Read More >>
Many hospitals are struggling with patients who have completed their acute hospital stay, but for whom post-hospital placement cannot be found. Based on member concerns, a new goal has been added to the WSHA strategic plan: Exploring policy options and process changes to speed up discharge for patients waiting for placement in long-term care facilities.... Read More >>
Nominations are now open for WSHA’s Joe Hopkins Memorial Award and the Community Health Leadership Award, which will be presented at WSHA’s 84th Annual Member Meeting Oct. 13-14 in Seattle. You can make nominations online through the WSHA website.... Read More >>
Last week, with record numbers of you, I attended the CEO & Trustee Patient Safety Summit. This event brings together over 300 hundred trustees, commissioners and hospital executives to talk about how hospitals can make patients safer.... Read More >>
We are spending all of May recognizing Mental Health Month and the importance of mental health care in our state. You have likely seen the almost daily news stories about mental health, both nationally and locally, and the news is often heartbreaking. We are forced to really see how hard it is for patients to access the care they need... Read More >>
We are excited to welcome a new director to the WSHA team: Tracie Lievense started last week as our new membership director. Prior to joining WSHA, Tracie served in several roles at the Swedish Foundation — most recently, as head of the foundation’s Philanthropy Services division. ... Read More >>
In health care, we’re in the business of helping people. At WSHA, we help by supporting our members, helping them provide high-quality care to their patients and their communities. However, our hospital and health system members are the ones who are on the ground level, helping people every day as they walk through the doors of the emergency department, check in for surgery or come to a clinic for a check-up.... Read More >>
Brenda Parnell, former CEO of Ferry County Hospital in Republic, has joined WSHA for the next several months as a temporary employee. She is assisting us as a policy and rural director for the summer while two members of our team are on leave.... Read More >>
