by Emily Wittenhagen Organization: WSMA Project Name/ Title: Honoring Choices Pacific Northwest Point of Contact: Jessica Martinson, jessica@wsma.org I was happy recently to sit down for a talk with Jessica Martinson, ‎the Director of Clinical Education and Professional Development at the Washington State Medical Association, known to many in our state as WSMA (pronounced wizma). ABOUT…

  by David Allison, CPHRM, System Patient Safety Director, PeaceHealth As those who work in them know well, running a rural healthcare facility can pose unique challenges. Transitions of care such as helicopter transfers and pathways to access are of extra importance, with long distances and waterways separating patients from treatment centers. Critical access hospitals,…

by Jacqueline Valentine, Director of Patient Safety,  Seattle Children’s A behind-the-scenes look at what one hospital has done to turn tragedy into an ambitious opportunity to build a stronger base of safety culture into their organization with the goal of zero preventable harm. About Seattle Children’s Seattle Children’s is an independent children’s hospital founded over 100…

by Elena Madrid, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Washington Health Care Association How can a state organization help promote patient safety for elderly communities? Elena Madrid shares her experiences from inside the WHCA and the work they do to sustain quality in these indispensable facilities. About the WHCA The Washington Health Care Association (WHCA) is a…

  by Sharon Eloranta, Medical Director, Quality and Safety Initiatives, Qualis Health At Qualis Health, we are working to decrease healthcare associated infections (HAIs) in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and outpatient/ambulatory surgery centers. Healthcare associated infections are relatively rare, but can be devastating to patients and families and costly for the healthcare system and payers. It is…

The Washington State Medical Association Foundation for Health Care Improvement has been hard at work on behalf of patients and physicians this past year. Accelerating the implementation of the Choosing Wisely campaign and launching the Honoring Choices Pacific Northwest advance care planning program were our top priorities.

Join patient safety leaders from across the region to learn, share, and be inspired. Presentations and discussions will address our theme – Patients and Families, Partners in Safe Care. We are seeking speakers and poster presenters from a variety of care settings and perspectives.