Thanksgiving comes at a beautiful time in our state, with trees shedding the last of their auburn leaves and snow beginning to fall in the mountains. This year we are also a few weeks past the close of a tense election cycle that has divided many of our communities and calls into question the future of health care. This makes Thanksgiving 2016 a particularly important one.... Read More >>

MultiCare Health System is purchasing Deaconess Hospital in Spokane and Valley Hospital in Spokane Valley, as well as Rockwood clinics, which is a network of primary, specialty and urgent care clinics in the inland Northwest. All the facilities are currently owned by Tennessee-based Community Health Systems.... Read More >>

Recent member news from the November 23, 2016 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

Hospitals across Washington State have their own ways of celebrating Thanksgiving each year, with special festivities that make the day and season special. Here are a few of the ways WSHA members celebrate and give thanks.... Read More >>

The future of Medicaid looks to be a top priority under President Trump and a Republican Congress. During the campaign, Mr. Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) called for replacing the current Medicaid program — and the ACA-mandated expansion — with a block grant to states or per capita spending caps. ... Read More >>

Senate Democrats this week selected Patty Murray as their assistant leader for the 2017-2018 Congress. This moves her up to the number three position in the Democratic leadership behind the party’s incoming leader, Chuck Schumer (NY) and minority whip Dick Durbin (IL). She currently serves as the Democratic Conference Secretary.... Read More >>

About 15 percent of adults smoked cigarettes in 2015, down from about 17 percent in 2014 and 21 percent in 2005, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cigarette smoking rates were higher among men than women, Native Americans than other racial and ethnic groups, and those with less education and income.... Read More >>

In the wake of last week’s election, we have heard concerns from hospital leaders across the country about heated conversations and tense emotions among hospital and health care staff, and in waiting rooms among patients. Each of you might consider reminding your staff to not engage in polarizing conversations, and share with them tools for defusing heated conversations among patients.... Read More >>

After a successful pilot in October, the Washington State Hospital Association and Washington Hospital Services are excited to bring the full LEAD Academy to Washington State this spring! You’re invited to learn more about this exciting management development program during a webcast at noon on November 21. ... Read More >>

If you’ve ever had a kidney stone, you know it can be one of the most painful experiences one can suffer through during a lifetime. UW Medicine/Northwest Hospital Medical Center is working to make things a little less painful for patients suffering from kidney stones, and help keep kidney stones from coming back again. This fall, the medical center opened the doors to the new UW Medicine Kidney Stone Center: the Puget Sound region’s first comprehensive center for the treatment and prevention of kidney stones.... Read More >>