News

The Washington State Hospital Association is collaborating with the Washington Patient Safety Coalition in planning the 15th Annual Northwest Patient Safety Conference. The event will convene May 11 near SeaTac Airport and will feature presentations by David Classen, CMIO of Pascal Metrics, and Dorothy Teeter, Director of the Washington State Health Care Authority. It will also feature and a two-hour workshop on CRP by Dr. Tom Gallagher from the University of Washington.... Read More >>

Hospitals are facing many challenges with a number of infections impacting patients, staff and their finances. Clostridium difficile (CDI) caused nearly 500,000 infections and 29,000 deaths in 2011. WSHA has developed a comprehensive toolkit to help hospitals target contributing factors and implement corrective actions to eliminate CDI.... Read More >>

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, known as “superbugs,” are growing and becoming a major public health threat. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated 30 percent of antibiotics used in the United States are either inappropriate or unnecessary. If we continue on the same trajectory we are on today, an estimated 10 million people around the globe will die annually from resistant infections by 2050.... Read More >>

In Washington State and across the nation, health caregivers have experienced an increase in assaults from patients, families and visitors. Frequently related to an existing mental health or substance abuse crisis, hospitals often do not have an effective infrastructure to proactively identify patients at risk for violence and appropriately manage the situation from a clinical and multi-disciplinary perspective to prevent injury. ... Read More >>

In a new podcast hosted by AHA’s Physician Leadership Forum and Hospitals Against Violence initiative, Carilion Clinic Chief Medical Officer Patrice Weiss, M.D., shares how the Roanoke, VA, health care organization is working with others in the community to prevent child abuse and domestic violence.... Read More >>

In a recent Forbes article, four hospital CEOs discussed the role of patient engagement in quality care. All of them made clear the key messages regarding the importance of patient and family engagement. One of the examples they discussed was Patient and Family Engagement Councils, also known as Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs), which is one of the best practices recommended by the Partnership for Patients initiative, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).... Read More >>

We are excited to announce that James Reinertsen, M.D., will lead this year's CEO & Trustee Patient Safety Summit May 1 and 2. Dr. Reinertsen is an extraordinary leader in improving health care quality, and he brings terrific insight into how boards and executives can work together to make patients safer.... Read More >>

Rural communities comprise 19.3 percent of Washington State’s population. This is a rather small percentage compared to Washington’s urban population of 80.7 percent, but according to the National Rural Health Association, health care in rural communities presents challenges unlike those in urban areas. ... Read More >>

WSHA has embraced the work of Dartmouth College, which states that readmissions are a measurement of health care fragmentation. Based on this concept, we have set up community forums to look at ways to better integrate care and implement WSHA’s toolkit for reducing readmissions.... Read More >>

The complex nature of this program can be difficult to navigate, so WSHA has partnered with the Washington State Medical Association and Qualis Health to address the complexities of this new program and how to support all clinicians in making the most out of these changes. ... Read More >>