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 >>

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 >>

Suffering a serious, unexpected injury or illness is not something any of us wants to think about. How will they know what kind of treatment we would want? What would it mean for our loved ones? Honoring Choices Pacific Northwest is a project co-sponsored by WSHA and the Washington State Medical Association with a vision that everyone in the state should receive care that honors their personal values and goals near the end of life.... Read More >>

The past month has been one with exceptional volume of very ill patients coming to our emergency rooms and clinics, with many needing advanced care in the ICU. This flu season has ended the lives of many the likes we have not seen since 2010. This is 172 people’s lives cut short by this very deadly disease.... Read More >>