WSMA Reports
WSMA’s flagship publication, published six times a year with health care news important to Washington physicians.
WSMA’s flagship publication, WSMA Reports, is published six times a year and features health care news and information important to today’s physicians.
Degrees of Transparency
January 5, 2026
WSMA backs legislation requiring health care providers to display credentials on badges and in ads to improve patient transparency.
A Tough Road Ahead: WSMA 2026 Budget Priorities
January 5, 2026
Washington faces a severe budget deficit and looming Medicaid cuts as the 2026 legislative session begins. WSMA outlines its budget advocacy priorities.
A Safer, Smarter Approach to Peer Review and Patient Care
November 11, 2025
In outpatient settings that vary in structure, peer review is a strategic necessity to ensure patient safety and clinical excellence.
Member Spotlight: Lucinda Grande, MD
November 6, 2025
Dr. Cindy Grande, family and addiction medicine physician, champions opioid treatment access, ketamine research, and WSMA policy advocacy.
The Intersection of Wall Street and the Exam Room
November 5, 2025
A WSMA Reports feature on how financial pressures are driving consolidation in medicine and what independent physician practices can do to remain viable.
Advocates for Health and Humanity
November 5, 2025
WSMA Reports editors Toren Davis, DO, and Bridget Bush, MD, reflect on physicians’ duty to advocate for patients, illustrated by two member poems.
Doctors Making a Difference: Patricia Egwuatu, DO
November 5, 2025
Family physician Patricia Egwuatu, DO, uses Instagram and TikTok to share evidence-based health information, bringing advocacy and education to a wide audience.
Healthy Food Resources, Better Health
October 21, 2025
A WSMA Reports feature on how Washington physicians are using food insecurity resources and food-as-medicine approaches to improve patient health outcomes.
An Open Door and a Clear Path
September 16, 2025
WSMA President Bridget Bush, MD, shares her journey from military flight surgeon to anesthesiologist, driven by connection, curiosity, and saying “yes.”
Member Spotlight: Charles Liu, MD
September 12, 2025
Dr. Charles Liu, UW colorectal surgeon, spotlights patient affordability, Medicaid access, and ACA cut impacts as key concerns in his first year.
How We Pay for Medical Care
WSMA Reports Sept. 11, 2025 How We Pay for Medical Care By James K. Rotchford, MD In the May/June 2025 issue of WSMA Reports, Amarita Stark, MD, discusses the threats to children’s access to medical care due to potential Medicaid cuts. I heartily concur with her concerns and have concerns
Doctors Making a Difference: Wayne Larrabee, MD
WSMA Reports Sept. 10, 2025 Doctors Making a Difference: Wayne Larrabee, MD Even before he started medical school, Wayne Larrabee, MD, knew he wanted to make a difference on a global scale. After working in public health as an epidemiologist in Central and South America, his experience in Panama observing
Truth, Noise, and Nonsense in Medicine
WSMA Reports Sept. 3, 2025 Truth, Noise, and Nonsense in Medicine By Rita Colorito Unqualified influencers, pseudoscience blogs, and posts with anecdotal cures: There’s much dubious and downright dangerous health information online that can erode trust between patients and their physicians. A 2024 report from The Lancet Digital Health underscores
Leveraging Trust for Public Good
September 3, 2025
A WSMA Reports feature on how physician credibility and community trust are essential tools for combating health misinformation and advancing public health.
It’s Not What You Say, It’s What the Patient Hears
WSMA Reports Sept. 3, 2025 It’s Not What You Say, It’s What the Patient Hears From Physicians Insurance Communication is a core clinical competency. Communication competencies are necessary to build and sustain relationships with our patients, enable patient engagement and to optimize patient adherence to treatment plans and recommendations. Communication
Safeguarding Sexual Health
WSMA Reports By Rita Colorito Members only; sign-in required. In March, the Washington state medical and research communities mourned the passing of University of Washington Distinguished Professor Emeritus King Holmes, MD, recognized worldwide as the “father of STI research.” Dr. Holmes’ foray into sexually transmitted infection care started in the
Managing Medical Documentation After a Cybersecurity Incident
WSMA Reports By Heather Edwards, RN The Change Healthcare ransomware attack in February 2024 stands as the most significant cybersecurity breach in U.S. health care history. Bad actors under the name of “BlackCat” exploited compromised credentials to access Change Healthcare’s Citrix portal-a system lacking multifactor authentication. The attackers infiltrated the
Charting the Future of AI
WSMA Reports Members only; sign-in required. By John Gallagher In just a few short years, artificial intelligence has gone from an interesting idea to a widely available tool. With corporations racing to unlock the full potential of AI, the field will only continue to expand, with more and more
Member Spotlight: Kim Emery, PA-C
July 8, 2025
Kim Emery, PA-C, at Columbia County Health System in Dayton, shares her 27 years of family practice experience and why WSMA membership matters to her.
Standing Up for Science and Medicine
WSMA Reports By John Vassall, MD As physicians we speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now depriving physicians and their patients of access to information, research, and clinical trials; resources necessary for excellent medical care and for physicians and patients to make informed choices
Risk Mitigation During Medication and Specialty Shortages, Equipment Recalls
WSMA Reports May. 13, 2025 Risk Mitigation During Medication and Specialty Shortages, Equipment Recalls By Heather Edwards, RN As many in health care will recall, the nation saw a dramatic shortage of iodine in 2022, after a two-month COVID-19 lockdown resulted in manufacturing interruptions. Doctors, clinics, and hospitals scrambled to