SW Washington

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PeaceHealth, Vancouver - Medical Center Physician's Building. | COURTESY PEACEHEALTH

Vancouver nurses eye Oregon’s new hospital staffing law

Across the Columbia River, nurses at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center want Oregon-style staff levels in their union contract. They plan to picket outside their hospital on Thursday.

Apr 16, 2024
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PacificSource headquarters is located in Springfield, Oregon. | COURTESY PHOTO

PacificSource lays off 29, will largely pull out of Washington

The Springfield, Oregon—based regional insurer says provider consolidation is making it harder to keep health care costs down — and challenging to expand its footprint. It will focus on its Oregon, Idaho and Montana markets instead.

Mar 28, 2024
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The Washington State Capitol in Olympia. | SHUTTERSTOCK

Proposal to regulate hospital mergers advances in Washington state Legislature

It’s driven in part by Democrats’ interest in protecting abortion access, as well as concerns about preserving affordable care. Republicans say the bill could have unintended consequences.

Feb 13, 2024

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Portland, Oregon. | SHUTTERSTOCK

Even without a pandemic, health care was wild in 2023

It was a year in which the health care community had hoped to recuperate. Instead, Oregon and southwest Washington saw major changes affecting workers, patients, insurers, state officials and health systems.

Dec 21, 2023

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PRISCILLA DU PREEZ/UNSPLASH

More people are calling Washington’s 988 suicide crisis hotline

State leaders are looking to increase support and funding for the program

Dec 21, 2023

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The hospital previously known as Cascade Behavioral Health. | WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

Washington pays $100M fine for neglecting mental health services earlier than expected

The court-ordered fine was for failing to provide mental health services to people in jail

Dec 12, 2023

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Melissah Watts, 66, and her son Max, 38. Melissah cares for her son, Max, full-time. | COURTESY OF SEIU 775

Into a caregiving void: Family members fill crucial role providing long-term care

AARP estimates there are 820,000 total family caregivers in Washington delivering 770 million hours of care annually

Nov 28, 2023

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EMILIANO BAR/UNSPLASH

Washington faces steep path closing mental health bed gap for jailed defendants

The state has made headway reducing the bed shortfall but it’s expected to persist at least through 2026, even with hundreds of millions of dollars in planned spending

Oct 26, 2023

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PeaceHealth workers picket on Oct. 11, 2023. | COURTESY OREGON FEDERATION OF NURSES AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Surge in health care walkouts continues with PeaceHealth strike Monday

Health care workers in Oregon and southwest Washington are walking out more than ever, citing pay as well as staffing problems that may be hard to cure

Oct 24, 2023
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