Recent member news from the March 24, 2016 Weekly Report.... Read More >>

MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital’s Children’s Therapy Unit (CTU) is celebrating its 50th anniversary of operation this year, celebrating a half century of offering a unique and necessary service to its community. The unit helps infants, children and adolescents with special needs — such as autism, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy — become as functional and independent as possible. The unit sees about 2,500 patients for year, which equates to roughly 40,000 total visits.... Read More >>

Washington Hospital Services Industry Partner InSight Telepsychiatry will host a webinar March 31 at 1 pm to on Best Practices for Implementing Telepsychiatry in Your Hospital. InSight will share its experience in helping healthcare organizations across the country set up and implement telepsychiatry programs and what it sees as best practices.... Read More >>

On March 9, Steven Saxe, R.Ph, FACHE was named the acting executive director for the Washington State Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission. He will replace Lisa Hodgson, who formerly held the position. Steven is a graduate of the Washington State University College of Pharmacy and previously served as the executive director for the then Pharmacy Board in 2004.... Read More >>

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is considering changes to its administrative policy on rest breaks. L&I is considering a new requirement of a rest break standard provided in a single “blocked” period of time. Currently, intermittent rest breaks are allowed. The changes they are considering would affect hospital employees as well as all non-agricultural workers.... Read More >>

Washington Hospital Services is please to introduce Numina Transcription, Inc. to the Industry Partner Program. Numina brings an approach to transcription that allows it to offer flexible solutions that insure quality, rapid turnaround time and competitive pricing for members looking for options in this area.... Read More >>

Last week, the Department of Health (DOH) issued two requests for proposals to help establish its Practice Transformation Hub. The hub is a key part of the state’s plans to transform healthcare. The work is intended to provide assistance to primary care and behavioral health care practices statewide, especially small to medium size practices. ... Read More >>

For more than 30 years, Puget Sound Kidney Centers has offered quality care to those suffering from the effects of chronic kidney disease in Snohomish, Skagit and Island County, but last year, CEO Harold Kelly noticed there was a way to make care even better for patients. The organization launched a series of free courses titled “Survive and Thrive with Chronic Kidney Disease,” which offers resources about treatment options as well as nutritional and exercise tips that will slow the irreversible disease.... Read More >>

On March 15, the Washington State Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the constitutionality of Initiative 1366, which was advanced by Tim Eyman and narrowly approved by voters in 2015. I-1366 would cut the state sales tax by one percent unless the legislature approves a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds vote to raise revenue or repeal any existing tax exemption.... Read More >>

On March 11, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced $94 million in Affordable Care Act funding to 271 health centers in 45 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to improve and expand the delivery of substance abuse services in health centers, with a specific focus on treatment of opioid use disorders in underserved populations.... Read More >>