News You Can Use

January 14, 2022

This is a publication to keep you informed of issues and events pertaining to the osteopathic profession in Washington State. We invite you to submit topics or articles of interest to your colleagues for consideration. Submissions may be emailed to executivedirector@woma.org

PREP Act Authorization Allows Hospitals to Distribute Full Course of Antiviral Drugs Authorized for Treatment of COVID-19

On January 4, 2022, Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah exercised the Washington State Department of Health’s authority as an Authority Having Jurisdiction under the PREP Act and the HHS Secretary’s declaration issued thereunder to declare that all hospitals licensed by the Washington State Department of Health are authorized in accordance with the public health and medical emergency response of the Washington State Department of Health to distribute to patients any antiviral for which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an Emergency Use Authorization or other approval for the treatment of COVID-19. The full letter is shown below and can also be found here. 

SB 5229 Health Equity Listening Sessions

The Department of Health (DOH) is reaching out to individuals and communities who have experienced health inequities or racism in the health care system. Advocacy groups and health care professional associations are also invited.

This is an effort to learn how people are harmed due to inequities in the health care system. They want to acknowledge its role in the health system. They want to create positive change in the health care system. The information they gather from listening sessions will be used in future rule workshops.  Individuals, communities, and health care workers will work together to create rules for health equity continuing education. Health care professionals must complete training in health equity as required by Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5229.

Health Equity and SB5229

DOH recognizes that sharing experiences about this subject may be difficult. They recognize and appreciate the emotional labor that will take place. They will make an intentional effort to create a safe space for participants and staff during this process. Sharing your experience is voluntary and it is up to you how you would like to share. If speaking in a group setting does not work for you, there is an option for written comments. No matter how you choose to take part, please know your willingness to engage in this process is greatly appreciated.

Listening Session

During these sessions, they will ask the following questions:

• What does health equity mean to you?
• What are your experiences with health inequities and how have they affected you?
• How can health care professionals improve so that they are providing fair healthcare?
• Is there anything else DOH needs to take into consideration?

To join, use the link below. They will be holding listening sessions: Each session has the capacity for 250 attendees. If a session fills up please consider attending another one. They want to hear from you.  

• Tuesday, February 1, 2022, from 5pm to 6pm via Microsoft Teams
• Thursday, February 10, 2022, from 10am to 11am via Microsoft Teams
• Tuesday, February 15, 2022, from 5pm to 6pm via Microsoft Teams
• Thursday, February 24, 2022, from 10am to 11am via Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer or mobile app

Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only)

+1 564-999-2000,,114577531#  United States, Olympia

Phone Conference ID: 114 577 531#

Please write them if you are unable to attend but want to share your experience. Written comments about past and current experiences with health inequities can be submitted via email to  healthequityimplementation@doh.wa.gov.

Chapter 246-15 WAC, Whistleblower Complaints in Healthcare Settings Adoption Notice

The Department of Health has adopted amendments to chapter 246-15 WAC, Whistleblower Complaints in Healthcare Settings. Chapter 246-15 WAC governs the rights and responsibilities of whistleblowers and the department, as well as procedures for filing, investigation, and resolution of whistleblower complaints. Substitute House Bill 1049 updated RCW 43.70.075 to include definition changes and protection expansion for some whistleblowers.

A whistleblower is a patient, employee, or health care worker including a health care provider or member of staff at a health care facility, who notifies the Washington State Department of Health of any quality of care issues or incidents.

The following changes to chapter 246-15 WAC were permanently adopted:

• Amend the definitions in WAC 246-15-010 for health care facility, improper quality of care, and whistleblower.
• Amend WAC 246-15-020 to clarify when a whistleblower's identity will remain confidential and the limited circumstances when the whistleblower's identity will be revealed.
• Amend WAC 246-15-030 to clarify department procedures for filing, investigating, and resolving whistleblower complaints
• Housekeeping changes to WAC 246-15-001

The adopted amendments to chapter 246-11 WAC will become effective on January 27, 2022. A copy of the postadoption notice as required by RCW 34.05.362 and the adopted rules are attached.

CR103 Whistleblower Complaints

Adoption Notice Ch 246-15 WAC

Questions on the adopted amendments to chapter 246-15 WAC, Whistleblower Complaints in Healthcare Settings, can be sent to Marlee O'Neill at marlee.oneill@doh.wa.gov.

Urgent Call for Qualified Health Care

Professionals to Help as Vaccinators

Public Health Seattle & King County and the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission are jointly issuing this Urgent Call for Help to administer Covid-19 boosters at seven community vaccination centers.

As of December 15, 2021, King County has successfully vaccinated over 92% of residents 16 years and older and 42% of children ages 5-11 with at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. These remarkable results place King County among the top five most highly vaccinated populous counties in the US. However, these high vaccination rates took over 1.5 years to achieve. Growing evidence indicates that vaccine effectiveness wanes over time but can be significantly increased against serious illness from both Delta and Omicron variants in people who receive an mRNA booster. 

Given Omicron’s arrival and high transmissibility, we are facing an urgent need to administer boosters to all booster-eligible King County residents (over 1.3 million people) over the next 4-6 weeks.

In response, King County, in collaboration with multiple partners has (re)opened eighteen vaccination clinics throughout the county. The vaccination sites are open to the public at no charge, the vaccine supply is adequate, the appointment and IT systems are in place, but are desperately short of qualified vaccinations.

This is where you come in and where your help is needed.

Please hear this call and respond by volunteering ASAP to be a vaccinator at a King County vaccination partnership site (see opportunities and volunteer signup links at selected sites). All volunteer vaccinators are required to have an active WA license and must clear a routine background check, at no cost to you.

Please help your community and your colleagues who are currently vaccinating at these sites. Please volunteer today.

Read statement and find volunteer opportunities.

Remember to Pay Your WOMA Dues!

Your 2022 WOMA Membership dues were due in full on January 1, 2022. If your employer pays your dues and you did not receive a confirmation email, you can log in to your account to check and see if it is paid here. You can also pay your dues through the same link. If you did not receive your statement in the mail please contact hgriffin@woma.org to get a new copy mailed or emailed to you.

If you are unable to pay for your dues at this time or would like to discuss payment options, please contact the WOMA office at 425-677-3930 or email executivedirector@woma.org. Your membership is important to us!