The Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) on March 17, 2025 presented its annual Community Health Leadership Award to MultiCare Inland Northwest Hospitals for their Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Resource Team.
Spokane County is facing a worsening opioid crisis, with overdose fatalities rising for the sixth consecutive year. Many individuals hesitate to seek hospital care due to past negative experiences or fear of police involvement. In response, MultiCare Deaconess and Valley hospitals launched the MOUD Resource Team.
“Everyone deserves to be cared for when they are sick,” said Dr. Catherine LaRue, MultiCare Rockwood Clinic physician. “Only 25 percent of patients seeking inpatient treatment for opioid use disorder receive access. We’ve created a space where they feel safe, seen and supported. Kindness and patience can make all the difference in someone’s recovery.”
As the only hospital-based MOUD team in Spokane, MultiCare offers both short- and long-term care. A key strength of the program is its person-centered approach, led by a two-person team: a registered nurse specializing in addiction management and a peer support specialist with lived experience in recovery. By meeting patients where they are and providing compassionate, stigma-free care, the MOUD Resource Team works to rebuild trust in the health care system and ensure better outcomes.
“WSHA is proud to honor MultiCare Inland Northwest Hospitals with the 2025 Community Health Leadership Award,” WSHA CEO Cassie Sauer said. “Their commitment to equity, harm reduction and whole-person care is transforming lives and setting a powerful example for hospitals across Washington state.”