Last Friday, frustrated Superior Court Commissioner Craig Adams issued a historic court opinion, ordering the state to start work immediately to improve the long-term mental health system and the capacity of Western State Hospital. The commissioner’s ruling does not just sound the alarm bell; it requires specific steps be taken. It also directs WSHA to be a partner in selecting a special master to oversee compliance with the court’s order.... Read More >>

SHA and the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) announced July 6 the launch of a joint task force to develop solutions to address the growing opioid epidemic, with an eye toward ways physicians and hospitals can play a more active role in tackling this issue. The task force will focus on driving appropriate prescribing and other best practices to help reduce prescription opioid addiction and overdose, also advancing key legislative proposals and policy initiatives.... Read More >>

Thank you to everyone who joined us last week at Campbell’s Resort in Chelan for our 40th Annual Rural Hospital Leadership Conference! It was a pleasure to see all of you there, and as always, we truly enjoyed spending this time with you, catching up and of course discussing the unique opportunities and challenges of rural health care, this year paying particular attention to health care as viewed from various points of view.... Read More >>

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 >>