The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) recently released the first Maternal Mortality Review Panel (MMRP) report outlining recommendations to reduce maternal mortality and improve care for women across the state. The MMRP was created through legislation to complete a formal review of maternal deaths in Washington State for 2014 and 2015, and “to identify factors associated with those deaths and make recommendations for system changes to improve health care services for women in this state.”... Read More >>

Molina Healthcare is accepting nominations for its Community Champions Award, and nominations are due this Saturday, August 26. Community Champions is Molina’s most distinguished volunteer recognition event, honoring the unsung heroes that work selflessly in the community and inspire others through their extraordinary services.... Read More >>

WSHA, as part of the Washington Healthcare Forum, expressed concerns in a letter about a recent proposal from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) to issue new rules on the practice of goldcarding. Goldcarding, which allows for an expedited prior authorization process, reduces administrative costs for hospitals and plans, and reduces hassles and wait times for patients. WSHA and other members of the Forum are concerned rulemaking could create a restrictive regulatory framework that would discourage the development of such innovative arrangements.... Read More >>

In addition to providing 24/7 emergency hotline services for the public and health care providers regarding potential toxic exposures, the Washington Poison Center has an active health care provider education program. By becoming a partner in its Hospital Fair Share program, your hospital supports the core emergency services of the poison center, and it also allows the center to provide immediate consultations from board-certified clinical toxicologists to your health care providers as well as information regarding antivenom administration and other specialized poisoning treatments.... Read More >>

Recent member news from the August 24, 2017 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

You can now nominate a leader or program for WSHA’s Joe Hopkins Memorial Award and Community Health Leadership Award (respectively). The awards will be presented at WSHA’s Annual Member Meeting Oct. 12 in Seattle.... Read More >>

As a University of Virginia alumna who spent four years of my life in Charlottesville, Virginia, it was absolutely heartbreaking to see the violence that unfolded there over the weekend. There is absolutely no room for hatred in America, and the events that transpired over the weekend have sent shockwaves through our communities.... Read More >>

Retaining talented caregivers is something always on the minds of hospital leaders. In Richland, a new facility built in partnership between Kadlec Regional Medical Center and Columbia Basin College is offering a place for caregivers to grow, making them more likely to stay in the Tri-Cities community after their training is complete. The building is the Wortman Medical Science Center, which is named after former Kadlec CEO Rand Wortman.... Read More >>

With the expert assistance of Pat Quigley, PhD, MPH, ARNP, CRRN, FAAN, FAANP — a national expert on falls with injury prevention — WSHA has developed several tools to help your hospital assess its effectiveness in preventing falls at the organizational and unit level, including a new and revised Safety Action Bundle, Gap Analysis and Strategic Planning. Falls disproportionally impact the older population, and with an aging inpatient hospital population, there is an increased risk for injurious falls and associated morbidity and mortality.... Read More >>

To date, the Washington Hospital Political Action Committee (WHPAC) has raised more than $86,000 toward our $225,000 goal. Though we are still early in the campaign, we have nine members that have already reached their goal.... Read More >>