News

Technology has changed all of our lives in drastic ways, especially in the last 30 years. The World Wide Web has changed the very fabric of our daily lives, changing the way we do everything from shop to network with others. Smartphones have allowed us to connect to the digital world from virtually anywhere, all with the click of a button. These changes have led to some applications in health care that transform the patient experience in amazing ways.... Read More >>

With the support of local voters, WhidbeyHealth Medical Center in Coupeville recently opened a new two-story, 60-000-square-foot addition that will improve patient care in numerous direct and indirect ways. It includes 39 new individual patient rooms (which has been shown to reduce infection rates and increase patient privacy and rest), an innovative heating and cooling system, infection control features and more.... Read More >>

WSHA member hospitals are invited to nominate programs for the 2017 Community Health Leadership Award. This award, given at the Annual Member Meeting in October, recognizes health care organizations for addressing their community’s broader health needs in innovative and lasting ways. We are looking to recognize organizations that are not just serving patients, but are making their entire communities healthier.... Read More >>

The Senate’s rejection last week of three proposals to repeal and partially replace the Affordable Care Act has ended the health care debate for now. But that’s not the end of the health care story. The Senate HELP Committee — on which Sen. Murray is the senior Democrat — announced hearings in early September on proposals to stabilize the insurance market. They want to produce a bill by mid-September.... Read More >>

As of January 2017, hospitals accredited by The Joint Commission are required to have antibiotic stewardship programs, and the requirement includes education for practitioners, staff and patients on the antimicrobial program, such as information about resistance and optimal prescribing. For hospitals seeking antimicrobial stewardship education, the Society of Hospital Medicine just released Antimicrobial Stewardship Modules that are available online.... Read More >>

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a memo in June indicating that it now expects certified health care facilities to have water management policies and procedures. The state Department of Health notes that is has learned of at least one facility that has been cited by CMS for lacking a water management program.... Read More >>

Membership update from the August 3, 2017 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

Recent member news from the August 3, 2017 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

Industry Partner Cordant Health is being recognized for its work to control opioids by keeping a tight rein on prescriptions. A recent article highlights how its controlled substance pharmacy ensures prescriptions stay in the right hands. Through the program, physicians send drug prescriptions for chronic pain electronically to the pharmacy.... Read More >>

After three days of debate and voting, the final proposal from Senate Republican leadership known as “skinny repeal” of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) failed by a 49-51 margin. This measure would have repealed the individual insurance mandate and the medical device tax, and delayed the employer mandate for eight years. Along with the failure of two other proposals earlier in the week, the vote brings an end — for now — to Republican efforts to repeal and replace the ACA that have lasted for six months.... Read More >>