United HealthCare, VMFH agree on new multi-year contract
Dec 27, 2024 | By: Conor WilsonThe agreement means St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor and St. Francis Medical Center in Silverdale will remain in-network for United customers.
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Aging population strain local hospitals’ resources
Dec 20, 2024 | By: Conor WilsonThe aging population of the wider West Sound region stresses Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, which operates St. Anthony and St. Michael.
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Gig Harbor, other cities trying to ease financial burden on seniors
Dec 19, 2024 | By: Conor WilsonGig Harbor, among other steps, is considering expanding how many seniors can participate in its utility rate reduction program.
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Legislation protects more hospital employees from mandatory overtime
Dec 18, 2024 | By: Conor WilsonSeparate legislation taking effect next year expands when workers in all industries can take sick leave.
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Virginia Mason launches academy to increase access to health care field
Dec 09, 2024 | By: Conor WilsonThe Allied Healthcare Academy is an attempt to fill employee vacancies by training people who have struggled to access the field, including people who are neurodivergent.
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Parks projects off the ground but long way to go
Dec 04, 2024 | By: Ed FriedrichPenMet Parks’ DeMolay Sandspit and Peninsula Gardens projects face months if not years of design and permitting before construction can begin.
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Department of Health suspends license of treatment provider with Gig Harbor office
Nov 27, 2024 | By: Conor WilsonDOH alleges counselors there lacked sufficient education; the CEO of Rainier Recovery says the charges are unfounded.
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Pierce County, Gig Harbor pressure state to strengthen laws around exposing children to opioids
Nov 26, 2024 | By: Conor WilsonCurrently, state accidental or reckless drug poisoning laws only apply to methamphetamine, not fentanyl and other opioids.
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Few options exist for area youth with substance use issues
Nov 21, 2024 | By: Conor WilsonA partnership between Crossroads Treatment Center and the Peninsula School District makes outpatient treatment available to students. Otherwise, it’s hard to find treatment options for young people — services that do provide it say demand isn’t high here.
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Public health officials monitoring increase in whooping cough — and decrease in vaccination rates
Nov 19, 2024 | By: Conor WilsonIn the Peninsula School District, vaccination rates were at 91% last year. That was down 1.4% from the 2019-20 school year.
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