Message from the Chair -
The Importance of Reflection

Karen Domino, MD, MPH

As far as my background: I am a professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and an adjunct professor of Neurologic Surgery at the University of Washington (UW). I attended medical school at the University of Michigan where I grew up. I did my anesthesia residency and fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. My first academic position was at the University of Pittsburgh. After my husband finished medical school there, we moved across the US where I joined the faculty at the UW and worked clinically at Harborview Medical Center. For the past 20 years, my research focus has involved quality improvement and patient safety in perioperative care and pain medicine. I have practiced at the University of Washington Medical Center-Montlake for the past decade. Read the Full Article

Executive Director Report

What is on the horizon for the Washington Medical Commission? In the immediate future, the Commission is involved in a number of issues that affect physicians, physician assistants, and members of the public. It?s difficult to narrow down what may be interesting or noteworthy, but there are three (3) issues worth at least a short mention here.

Physician Assistant News -Communication Is Connection

For as long as I can remember my now 94 year-old Latino mother would say, ?Mi hijo, hablando es como la jente se entienden.? Which translated is to say, ?Speaking/ communicating is how people understand themselves?. And as I have gotten older, I have realized more and more how important and vital those few words were and are today. Continue Reading

COVID-19 Disaster Cascade Recovery Updates

October 18, 2023 12:00 ? 1:00 PM PST
Register Here

The Federation of State Medical Boards designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0?AMA PRA Category 1 Credit?. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The Washington Physician Health Program CARES for
Physicians and PAs

I am grateful that physicians and PAs continue to choose and support WPHP. You have helped make us a national leader among physician health programs, an accomplishment that benefits all we serve. Beyond our direct service to program participants, know that we are also working tirelessly to advocate on behalf of the professions that underwrite our work, that we are always in your corner and ready to help. With concerns about physician burnout, mental health, and suicide at an all-time high, our mission and partnership with you could not be more critical. Read the Full Article

Congratulations Dr. Wohns!

Commissioner Richard Wohns, M.D.,
JD, MBA recently returned from Nepal where he was honored with an award for his work and support for academic neurosurgery. Dr. Wohns Has been teaching neurosurgery in Nepal for 10 years and is the founder of the nonprofit organization ? Nepal Spine Foundation ? which supports the educational activities for neurosurgeons at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu. More information about the program and its successes can be found here.

Age-based Discrimination
in Healthcare

Older adults are disproportionally impacted by health disparities due to the complex and inter-related social, economic, and overall well-being that work together to limit equitable access to quality medical care. Age discrimination in healthcare is the unfair or biased treatment of individuals based on their age within the healthcare system. This discrimination can take many forms to significantly impact the quality of care and overall health outcome for older individuals. Continue Reading

Important Changes for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program

While WIC will offer in-person appointments, we know that most participants will choose to receive WIC services remotely. This means that WIC staff will need to obtain measurements and hemoglobin values from other health service providers. If you or your staff take growth measurements, or test hemoglobin or blood lead levels, we encourage you to provide this information to your patients so they can share it with WIC staff. Read More

Protected Health Care workers now eligible for ACP

Individuals providing reproductive health care services or gender affirming treatment are now eligible for the Washington Address Confidentiality Program (ACP). This includes providers, their employees, and their affiliates. Read More