Health & Wellness

Aging population strain local hospitals’ resources

Dec 20, 2024 | By:

The 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:

Gig 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:

Separate 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:

The 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:

PenMet 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:

DOH 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:

Currently, 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:

A 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:

In 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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Port Orchard clinic helping bring healthy food to some patients’ doors under pilot program

Nov 13, 2024 | By:

Just up the road in Port Orchard, a clinic is working with South Kitsap Helpline to deliver nutritious foods directly to patients with diabetes who also face food insecurity and mobility issues. Here’s how it works.

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