August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. With more than 52,000 overdoses in the U.S. in 2015, this day represents a time for us to remember those who have prematurely lost their lives, and to commit to taking action to address the opioid crisis. Given the impact of this crisis on our community, it is likely that we have all been touched by this issue or know of someone who prematurely lost a loved one to an overdose.... Read More >>

More WSHA member hospitals have earned recognition through the Washington State Department of Health’s Breastfeeding Friendly Washington Hospitals.... Read More >>

Helen Vos has been appointed Interim CNO at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. Melanie Brandt has been appointed CNO at Grays Harbor Community Hospital. Marcia Naillon has been appointed interim CNO at North Valley Hospital.... Read More >>

Recent member news from the August 31, 2017 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

The next cohort of LEAD Academy starts in just a couple weeks and space is filling up! The next Seattle session will begin September 12 and will meet one day per month through November at the WSHA offices. Registration is now open and is limited to 30 participants.... Read More >>

Washington State has 107 hospitals, and they are all members of WSHA. For my first year as CEO, I committed that a member of the WSHA executive team would visit every hospital member that would have us. Since then, we’ve been all over the state, meeting with CEOs, leadership teams and boards. It’s been a terrific experience that we are now memorializing on a large map in the WSHA office.... Read More >>

Hospitals play an important role in their communities as they help connect residents with the medical care they need. Collaboration can be integral when it comes to connecting residents to services, and in Renton, UW Medicine/Valley Medical Center teams up with Renton Rotary, the Renton Salvation Army and Renton Technical College to operate Renton RotaCare: a free clinic for families and individuals who are unable to obtain health insurance but are in need of non-emergent care.... Read More >>

Adding patient and family engagement education to your hospital’s fall prevention bundle can help reduce fall rates in the acute care setting. Not only does this mean a better outcome for your patient, but also a savings for your hospital. Studies show that accidental falls in acute care settings have resulted in serious injuries to patients, to the extent that the Joint Commission has labelled fall-related sentinel events as a priority initiative (National Patient Safety Goal 9 -NPSG 9).... Read More >>

Mark your calendar for WSHA’s Annual Member Meeting at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront. This year’s meeting will be on Thursday, October 12, with the annual Governance Education day to follow on Friday, October 13. Registration for both events will open on Tuesday, September 5. WSHA’s hotel room block is now open and you can make your reservation at WSHA’s group rate online.... Read More >>

If I attest successfully in the Medicaid EHR Incentive program for 2017, do I still need to participate in the QPP to avoid negative payment adjustments to my Medicare Part B allowed charges in 2019? If one eligible clinician (EC) in the group must meet the base score requirements for the Advancing Care Information (ACI) category, do all members of the group have to meet all of the measures for ACI, or will it suffice if only one EC in the group meets the ACI requirements?... Read More >>