Providence

A woman in a blue shirt holds a sign that says "safe staffing saves lives"

Are Washington hospitals ready for the state to enforce their staffing plans?

Susan Shain

Washington hospitals must start complying with a new staffing law by July 1, or eventually face financial penalties from the state.

A stethoscope is laid out on a bedsheet.

Local News

Religious freedom vs. health care access: How faith influences health care in Washington and Idaho

By Emma Maple | FāVS NewsThe Idaho state Legislature is currently embroiled in an ideological battle on whether to allow health care professionals and…

At Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, non-urgent surgeries are being cancelled and nurses who don't normally work with patients are being prepared to return to the front lines. The actions come as COVID-19 cases continue to spike.

Local News

As Washington COVID Cases Surge, A Chief Medical Officer Prepares Hospitals For The Worst

“Unfortunately, I think within the next week it’s going to be a significant rise in COVID-19,” said Dr. Kevin Caserta, the chief medical officer for Providence SW Washington. Already, the two hospitals Caserta oversees, St. Peter and Providence Centralia, have seen a near doubling of COVID patients over the past six to eight weeks – from roughly 25 to nearly 50 today.

Cars line up for coronavirus testing outside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Florida is one of many states reporting spikes in COVID-19 cases in recent days, as the number of confirmed cases worldwide has topped 10 million. Wilfredo Lee/AP

Local News

Coronavirus Third Wave In Washington: Long Lines For Testing, People Turned Away

It used to be a busy day at the Providence COVID drive-up test site near Olympia was 100 cars. Recently, the site broke a one-day record with 352 drive ups. It's another sign of the “third wave” now underway.