4 Virginia Mason patients dead amid bacterial outbreak. It's not clear that's what killed them Over the past six months, 27 patients hospitalized at Virginia Mason Medical Center in downtown Seattle were infected with a bacteria that can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and wound or bloodstream infections. Four of those patients have since died. Eilis O'Neill
In Oklahoma, a woman was told to wait until she's 'crashing' for abortion care A new study shows women who call the hospitals in Oklahoma get confusing information about the state's abortion bans. One family lived through that confusion with dire consequences last month. Selena Simmons-Duffin
Some Washington hospitals will continue to require masks after state mandate drops in April Washington state's mask mandate for health care settings will end on April 3, but a group of Western Washington hospitals and medical organizations will continue to require folks to mask up while in their facilities. Kim Malcolm Dyer Oxley
Washington hospitals continue to report financial losses Hospitals across Washington state continue to see steep financial losses, according to the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA). Last year it amounted to a $2.1 billion operating loss across the board, following hundreds of millions in losses in 2021. Kate Walters
Seattle hospital puts patients under without overheating the planet The gases that are used to sedate patients also heat up the climate in a big way. John Ryan
Robot joins the ranks at Spokane hospital Hospitals across Washington state continue to struggle with staffing levels, and some are getting creative with potential ways to lighten the load for nurses. A Spokane hospital has welcomed a robot named Moxi to its care team. Kate Walters
Washington hospitals say financial situation remains dire as viruses surge Hospitals across Washington state continued to see financial losses in the third quarter of this year, according to survey results from the Washington State Hospital Association released Tuesday. Kate Walters
RSV is on the rise among children, but figuring out where is complicated Emergency rooms at children's hospitals are seeing dramatic increases in admissions because of RSV and other respiratory viruses. But there are complications to tracking the virus in rural communities especially. Libby Denkmann Hans Anderson
Pinched for staff, this Kitsap ER nurse called on firefighters to step in On the night of Saturday, Oct. 8, firefighters were called in to help on the Kitsap Peninsula, but it wasn't because of a fire. Instead, an overwhelmed nurse at the ER at St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale requested firefighters' help for managing patients. Libby Denkmann Hans Anderson Alec Cowan
Washington nurses call for better pay as more colleagues turn to traveling work Hospital staffing shortages across the state have some nurses taking their skills on the road. Angela King Katie Campbell
