| king_county_medical_society_and_washington_state_medical_association_endorse_ban_on_flavored_e_cigar | King County Medical Society and WSMA Endorse Ban on Flavored E-Cigarettes | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2019/October/king_county_medical_society_and_washington_state_medical_association_endorse_ban_on_flavored_e_cigar | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-md-5 pull-right"><img src="/images/Logos/Press-Release-Graphic-2019-Branding.png" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA press release logo" /></div>
<h5>October 21, 2019</h5>
<h2>King County Medical Society and Washington State Medical Association Endorse Ban on Flavored E-Cigarettes </h2>
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Seattle, Wash. - The members of the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) House of Delegates have voted overwhelmingly to adopt a proposal from King County Medical Society advocating for a ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in Washington state. The vote took place Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019 at the WSMA's annual meeting held in SeaTac.
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In September, Gov. Jay Inslee issued an executive order asking the state board of health to impose an emergency temporary ban on flavored vaping products. The board of health unanimously approved the executive order, which institutes the temporary ban on the products through Feb. 7, 2020. The health board's decision to temporarily ban flavored vape products is similar to recent moves made in Michigan and New York. The King County Medical Society resolution adopted by the WSMA went further and called for a permanent ban of all flavored e-cigarette products.
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Through adoption of the resolution, the WSMA joins the King County Medical Society, The American Lung Association, The American College of Physicians, and dozens of leading health experts who have announced their endorsement of such a ban. Supporters include hospitals, physicians, medical experts, patients, and health care professionals in addition to bipartisan legislators.
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Newly voted into the WSMA's board of trustees, King County Medical Society President and author of the resolution Teresa Girolami, MD, clearly stated that, "I am proud of the work we are doing, and that the resolution for a permanent ban was passed unanimously and adopted by the WSMA. We look forward to the WSMA's AMA representatives presenting the resolution to the entire national AMA delegation very soon. KCMS is very proud to have authored this timely and important resolution that will protect our youth."
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"The rise in vaping seen in Washington's kids and in kids across the nation should have everyone alarmed—not just physicians," said Bill Hirota, MD, WSMA's newly elected president. "Vaping induced injuries and deaths are increasingly being reported and represent a significant public health concern. We stand with our colleagues at King County Medical Society and across health care who are united in this fight to protect our kids and patients from harm."
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<p><strong>For more information, contact:</strong><br />
<br />
Graham Short<br />
WSMA Associate Director of Communications<br />
206.956.3633&nbsp;
<br />
<a href="mailto:gfs@wsma.org">gfs@wsma.org</a></p>
<p><strong>About the WSMA&nbsp;</strong><br />
The Washington State Medical Association represents more than 11,000 physicians, physician assistants, resident physicians and medical students in Washington state with the vision is to make Washington state the best place to practice medicine and receive care.</p>
</div> | 10/21/2019 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| new_rules_require_providers_to_report_lung_injuries_within_3_days | New Rules Require Providers to Report Lung Injuries Within 3 Days | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2019/October/new_rules_require_providers_to_report_lung_injuries_within_3_days | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-md-5 pull-right"><img alt="teen vaping" src="/images/Concepts/tobacco_vaping_645x425.jpg" class="pull-right" /></div>
<h5>October 16, 2019</h5>
<h2>New Rules Require Physicians to Report Lung Injuries Within 3 Days</h2>
<p><em>Updated October 21, 2019</em></p>
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The Washington State Board of Health has released new rules for physicians and health care providers related to a multi-state outbreak of lung injury associated with vapor products. As of Oct. 15, almost 1,479 cases have been identified from 49 states, including 33 deaths. Twelve cases have been identified in Washington, with additional cases under investigation.
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On Sept. 27, Gov. Jay Inslee issued Executive Order 19-03: <a href="https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/exe_order/19-03 - Addressing the Vaping Public Health Crisis %28tmp%29.pdf" target="_blank">Addressing the Vaping Use Public Health Crisis</a>, and the health board issued emergency rules on Oct. 9. Among other actions, the rules require health care providers to report cases of lung injury to local health authorities within three business days. This will help public health quickly learn of cases and work to identify the cause(s) of this lung injury. The Washington State Department of Health has released <a href="https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1500/820-080-GuidelinesforCliniciansVapingLungInjury.docx">reporting guidelines for clinicians</a>, which will be updated as the agency learns more. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6841e3.htm?s_cid=mm6841e3_w">interim guidance for evaluating and caring for patients with suspected e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury</a>. Questions may be directed to <a href="mailto:vapingresponse@doh.wa.gov">vapingresponse@doh.wa.gov</a>.
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</div> | 10/16/2019 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| WSMA_Presents_Patient_Safety_Award_to_Community_Health_Center_of_Snohomish_County | WSMA Presents Patient Safety Award to Community Health Center of Snohomish County | Latest_News | Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2019/October/WSMA_Presents_Patient_Safety_Award_to_Community_Health_Center_of_Snohomish_County | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-md-5 pull-right"><img src="/images/Logos/Press-Release-Graphic-2019-Branding.png" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA press release logo" /></div>
<h5>October 15, 2019</h5>
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WSMA Presents Patient Safety Award to Community Health Center of Snohomish County</h2>
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Seattle, Wash.&nbsp;-&nbsp;The Community Health Center of Snohomish County has been recognized by the Washington State Medical Association for its program to expand access to treatment for patients with opioid use disorder. The health center was presented the William O. Robertson, MD Patient Safety Award of Excellence on Saturday, Oct. 12 at the medical association's annual meeting at the Hilton Seattle Airport &amp; Conference Center in SeaTac.
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Recognizing that medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has repeatedly been shown to be safe and effective for patients with opioid use disorder, and that there was a dearth of medical providers who had the necessary training to provide the treatment, the health center set out to establish a comprehensive MAT program. As part of the program, the health center:
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Required primary care providers who see adult patients to complete MAT waiver training.
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Developed a MAT reporting and tracking system.
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Redesigned its MAT intake process to use a team-based approach so that the patient meets with an RN, a chemical dependency specialist, and then the physician.
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Reduced stigma often attached to opioid use disorder by encouraging its providers to think about their patients with OUD in the same way they think about patients with diabetes.
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The health center currently has 482 active patients on MAT, and that number grows by approximately 20 each month. “These community members are no longer using opioids and are at lower risk for HIV, Hep B and C, syphilis, and TB,†said WSMA Past President Donna Smith, MD, when presenting the award during a dinner celebration at the meeting. “They are starting to put their lives back together.â€
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Accepting the award on behalf of the health center was Thomas Tocher, MD, a WSMA-member and an internist with the health center.
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The WSMA established its William O. Robertson, MD Patient Safety Awards in 2005 to recognize and share innovative patient safety initiatives in the ambulatory care setting. The award was named after another WSMA past president, the late Dr. William O. Robertson, who was a champion for patient safety, risk management, and quality improvement throughout his long and distinguished career.
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<p><strong>For more information, contact:</strong><br />
<br />
Graham Short<br />
WSMA Associate Director of Communications<br />
206.956.3633&nbsp;
<br />
<a href="mailto:gfs@wsma.org">gfs@wsma.org</a></p>
<p><strong>About the WSMA</strong></p>
<p>The Washington State Medical Association represents nearly 11,000 physicians, physician assistants, resident physicians and medical students in Washington state. The WSMA has advocated on behalf of the house of medicine more than 125 years. Our vision is to make Washington state the best place to practice medicine and receive care.</p>
</div> | 10/15/2019 11:26:13 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |