Membership updates from the June 1, 2017 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

Recent member news from the June 1, 2017 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

While I was in Washington, D.C., last week, WSHA was one of a small group invited to participate in a meeting with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma. The conversation was intended to focus on the regulatory challenges facing rural providers. (Special thanks to Richard Ervin FNP-C of Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center. Richard called into the meeting to ensure the voice of the providers was heard.)... Read More >>

WSHA is responding to the HCA’s request for information for the toolkit on behalf of some of our rural members. WSHA is also exploring working with the HCA and managed care organizations to develop common measures that can be used for inpatient care.... Read More >>

In most rural communities, access to specialists sometimes means traveling long distances, and very often recurring trips for needed care. It can include not only the cost of fuel to travel, but lodging, meals, care for school-age children or elderly family members while away, someone to look after the farm or business, plus sundry other issues. Telehealth can relieve some of those burdens on rural community members by increasing access to specialist via virtual visits.... Read More >>

The Trump White House submitted to Congress a budget request for the next year. His budget includes huge cuts to Medicaid that could mean that about 10 million people would lose insurance over the next 10 years. It also cuts the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), graduate medical education, nurse workforce development and other parts of the safety net. ... Read More >>

To better serve the men and women who have suffered traumatic brain injuries while serving our country, Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma launched the Madigan Intrepid Spirit Transitions (MIST) program at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). The program is a six-week intensive outpatient group designed to treat the whole patient on the road to recovery.... Read More >>

Dr. Pritpal Tamber is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bridging Health & Community, a Washington State nonprofit dedicated to transforming how we approach health care to encompass things like safety, physical functioning, financial security and emotional security. Dr. Tamber will deliver the closing plenary at the Rural Hospital Leadership Conference in Chelan from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Wednesday, June 28. His session at this year's event will focus on your role as leaders in shaping a value-based health system that reflects your community.... Read More >>

On May 19 the WSHA Board of Trustees voted to approve the membership application of WSHA’s newest member, Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital in Marysville. This 115-bed behavioral health hospital will provide specialized acute care for behavioral health and addiction treatment. It is scheduled to open this summer.... Read More >>

In 2015 and 2016, seven women in Washington State gave birth to eight infants with congenital syphilis. In response to this dramatic increase of a preventable disease, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) distributed a letter to women’s health providers outlining recommendations for syphilis screening during pregnancy. Up to 40 percent of babies born to women with untreated syphilis may be stillborn or die from the infection as newborns, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.... Read More >>