5503 N. Wall Street Suite "C"  /  Spokane, WA 99205  /  877-326-6499

MISSION STATEMENT:

Our mission is to establish and promote a system of emergency medical and trauma services, which provides for timely and appropriate delivery of emergency medical treatment for people with acute illness and traumatic injury.

**Recent updates**  

Hot Topics

Swine Flu Emergency Rule:This news release from the DoH contains information about how the pandemic level affects Washington State.

Lessons Learned Report on the H1N1 Outbreak: Read the report here.

Changes at the Washington Poison Center: The Washington Poison Center has released a press release regarding the impact of the budget cuts on their organization.

Alcohol Advertising rules review: The Washington State Liquor Control Board (LCB) has issued proposed changes to WAC 314-52 and is accepting public comment until June 15, 2009. Read about the proposed changes here.

Recommended Change to Asotin County Min/Max Verification Numbers: Read the proposal here. Anyone with comments should send them to the Regional Office as soon as possible.

End of 2009 Legislative session - Read the letter from Gov. Gregoire about the end of the legislative session and a final update on the session here.

Legislative session information for hospitals: Visit the WSHA website for more information

Note from Sandra Dlugosz: For your information, I am sharing the pertinent EMS & Trauma line items from the Legislative Compromise Budget going to the Governor:
  1. Eliminate Senior Falls Program - $750,000
  2. Reduce Poison Control Center - $1,500,000
  3. *Reduce Office of EMS - $500,000
  4. *Reduce Office of Rural Health - $300,000
These are in addition to agency reductions that will be shared among the DOH divisions.
Note: SSB 5588 did not pass. The EMS and Trauma Care Steering Committee and Licensing and Certification Committee are not eliminated.

*Office of EMS and Office of Rural Health are now part of the Office of Community Health Systems.

Prescription Drug Overdose: State Health Agencies Respond - Since 1999, abuse, misuse, and overdose of prescription drugs have significantly increased. Each year more than 20,000 persons in the United States die from drug overdose. Those with the highest rates are adults ages 35–44 and persons living in the South and West regions of this country. Opioid drugs, commonly prescribed to relieve pain, are the most common source of drug overdose deaths.

To assess the knowledge, response, and planning regarding prescription drug misuse and overdose, in late 2007 the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and CDC conducted interviews with State and Territorial Health Officials and other senior leaders in nine states (Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, and West Virginia).

The resulting report, Prescription Drug Overdose: State Health Agencies Respond, outlines the state perceptions, partnerships, recommendations, policies, and other issues that are fundamental to understanding and responding to drug misuse.

Order a free copy of the report at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/pubs/ncipc.aspx or download a PDF copy at http://www.cdc.gov/HomeAndRecreationalSafety/pubs/RXReport_web-a.pdf

Drug Abuse Information - Read about prescription drug abuse among teens here

2009 PHEPR Legislation Tracking Sheet - Get it here

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Information: To see the funds allocated to the state of Washington under this act, visit Recovery.gov and click on Washington on the map. The site breaks down the fund distribution for Urban, Suburban and Rural areas.

New! The CHS organization chart is now available on the Documents section of the website. DOH, EMS and Trauma Office employees and their phone numbers are listed in this document.

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