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We work together to connect resources, champion equity, and strengthen health systems across rural Washington.
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 The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is our state's appointed lead on the Rural Health Transformation Program. Transformation Program. In this webinar HCA will cover the background, current work, and next steps in the RHT Program, including future requests for proposal (RFP) opportunities.
Date: Tuesday, April 14
Time: 10:00 - 10:45 am
If you can’t make it to the webinar, the recording will be shared through HCA's webpage after the event. You can also find more information and RHT Program updates on the page.
Disclaimer: This program is supported by CMS/HHS as a financial assistance award totaling $181,257,515.06 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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WABON is accepting applications for the student nurse preceptorship grant for the winter quarter. For the winter cycle, you can earn $1000 for precepting student nurses. The deadline to apply for the grant reimbursement for winter 2026 is April 10, 2026
Informational Sessions for Student Nurse Preceptors and Health Care Facilities Interested in the Washington State Student Nurse Preceptor Program.
Join WABON for monthly 30-minute information sessions. The information sessions will go through updates, step-by-step how to apply, common errors, and Q&A at the end.
WSSNPG Upcoming Informational Sessions
- April 8, 2026 at 10:00 am
- May 13, 2026 at 10:00 am
- June 10, 2026 at 10:00 am
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WA HEALTH, managed by the DOH Healthcare Analytics, Readiness and Preparedness team provides near real-time data on hospital bed capacity and secondary care respiratory illness. The redesigned website launch provides deeper insights into the program's purpose and data architecture, ensuring that the tools necessary for surge capacity planning and emergency response are more accessible than ever. |
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HB 1155: An act relating to encouraging competition and economic growth by prohibiting noncompetition agreements and clarifying nonsolicitation agreements.
House Bill 1155 (2026), effective June 30 2027, eliminates noncompetition agreements statewide, making them void and unenforceable for all workers, including those in health care. Employers will be unable to restrict where employees work after leaving their job or require repayment penalties tied to taking a new position. Employers must make reasonable efforts to notify affected workers that these agreements are no longer valid. It is important to note that limited exceptions remain for short-term training repayment agreements and narrowly defined nonsolicitation clauses. For rural health, the bill is expected to increase workforce mobility, making it easier to recruit clinicians, while also increasing competition for retaining staff. The Department of Health cannot provide legal advice. It is recommended that you consult with your legal counsel to best understand how this bill may impact you or your organization.
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Recently in Washington we've seen an increase in wound care patients with infections from multidrug resistant bacteria, specifically Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB). CRAB can cause serious infections in home health patients, and staff need to pay extra attention when disinfecting patient care items exposed to these bacteria. WA State Department of Health invites home health staff and leaders to a webinar on best practices for infection prevention during in-home wound care on April 22 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm.
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The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses has launched a new virtual program just for perinatal nurses working in rural settings! On Monday, April 13, 2026 at 12 pm PT, join AWHONN for a one-hour Q&A session offering support, evidence-based answers, and a brief didactic segment designed for perinatal nurses to strengthen rural practice. Register by April 11, 2026 to receive the session login information. |
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The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) is hosting a FREE national webinar on Monday, April 13, at 11:00 am PT: “Workforce as Strategy: A Practical Guide to Attract and Retain Key Personnel.”
This 60-minute session, led by Wintergreen and Gingham Solutions, will offer practical, financial, and operational solutions for the workforce challenges unique to rural healthcare providers.
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The Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Challenge recognizes and celebrates health care professionals, practices, and health systems that have achieved exceptional hypertension control rates of at least 80%. Practices and clinicians in the U.S. and its territories are eligible. Apply to be a 2026 Hypertension Control Champion by April 30, 2026. Learn more about the Challenge rules and eligibility
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DOH has created a new resource to support healthcare facilities in preventing and managing measles exposures. This tool is designed for infection prevention, clinical, and operational teams.
The DOH/WSHA Airborne and Airborne Contact precaution signs for acute care have also been updated.
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The University of Washington Community-Based Integrated Care Fellowship welcomes psychiatric providers seeking additional training to deliver integrated care in community-based settings. This is offered through the UW Integrated Care Training Program (ICTP) and is free for Washington State providers.
Applications available now, and due May 1, 2026.
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Join a conversation rooted in care, connection, and community to honor and uplift our 2SLGBTQ+ relatives. The Strong Spirits, Strong Communities: Supporting Our 2SLGBTQ+ Relatives webinar will offer a space to listen and learn from the voices of those with lived experiences. The webinar will be held from 10 to 11 am PT on Tuesday, April 7. Register to attend.
The Health Resources and Services Administration has extended the comment period for feedback on its 340B rebate model program to April 20, 2026. Review the Request for Information and provide your feedback.
HHS Releases Cybersecurity Toolkit RISC 2.0. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response (ASPR) within the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced an updated version of its Risk Identification and Site Criticality (RISC) toolkit to help health care facilities identify threats and hazards specific to their site.
Check out DOH's NEW Vaccines for Respiratory Illness Newsletter by visiting DOH's email subscribers page. Once you enter your email, on the next page expand the Immunization topic, select Vaccines for Respiratory Illnesses Newsletter, and click submit.
On November 26, 2025, DOH adopted amendments to WAC 246-320-010 and 246-320-281 in accordance with recently passed legislation and Directive of the Governor 25-01. The rules ensure access to emergency medical care, including emergency abortion services, and protect a pregnant person’s right to exercise informed consent in prioritizing their health and safety when receiving treatment for emergency medical conditions. The permanent rules are in effect and replace the emergency rules that were filed on September 4, 2025 (PDF) and January 13, 2025 (PDF).
On January 22, 2026, DOH rescinded policy statement HSQA-24-01, Emergency Abortion Care in Hospitals Providing Emergency Services (PDF) which was filed June 17, 2024, and published in WSR 24-13-083. You can visit the department's Hospitals - Rules in Progress | Washington State Department of Health webpage to learn more about hospital rulemaking.
The Antimicrobial Stewardship Team is pleased to announce a new quarterly antimicrobial stewardship call for June 4, 2026, 12:00 - 12:45 pm PT.
Created in partnership with the WA State Hospital Association, Comagine Health, and UW Medicine, the purpose of this call is to discuss stewardship and stewardship-related topics, facilitate collaboration and communication amongst Washington acute care stewards, and identify effective strategies to enhance support provided by the Department of Health’s antimicrobial stewardship team. Please register in advance.
NEW CDC Office of Rural Health Resources have been added to their Office of Rural Health website, including Rural Health Science Tip Sheets and FREE Rural Public Health Training.
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Questions? Contact us at RuralHealth@DOH.WA.gov |
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