Tag Archives: department of health

State approves St. Anthony Hospital expansion

20090626-204356-pic-934221171_5654090_ver1.0_640_480State regulators have signed off on CHI Franciscan Health’s plan to add 32 beds to St. Anthony hospital in Gig Harbor. 

The Department of Health conditionally approved a certificate of need for the expansion on Nov. 29, according to documents posted online.

The $15.6 million project will build out the unfinished fifth floor of the hospital, bringing St. Anthony’s licensed bed count to 112.

CHI Franciscan proposed the additional beds to meet growing demand for services. The facility is frequently at full capacity, resulting in longer wait times and patient transfers to St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma.

“Building out St. Anthony will allow us to afford better care for our patients in the greater Gig Harbor community, with room to accommodate more patients with increased access to local services,” Dr. Lance Bear, MD, chief of surgery at St. Anthony, said in a news release. 

The new beds are expected to open in early 2018.

This post was updated to include information from a Wednesday news release.

These 14 stores in Kitsap have medical marijuana endorsements

The state’s medical marijuana overhaul law took effect Friday, meaning unlicensed dispensaries in Kitsap should by now be shuttered.

Medical marijuana patients have the option of registering for a state database, which allows them to buy products from recreational marijuana stores without paying the heavy sales tax, among other benefits.

B0014002263--432412To sell to those patients, recreational marijuana stores must obtain a special endorsement from the state.

As of Tuesday, 14 of Kitsap County’s 17 licensed retail stores had received the endorsement, according to Liquor and Cannabis Board records.

Click here for a statewide map of locations.

The Suquamish Tribe’s Agate Dreams store also will begin serving medical marijuana patients later this month, a store employee said Friday.

The state scrambled to get the medical marijuana patient database operational in time for the July 1 deadline. The database went live Friday, but the Department of Health warned some stores may not be ready to input patient information or issue “recognition” cards.

In addition to sales tax-free purchases, these are the other benefits provided to patients who register for the medical marijuana database:

  • Purchase up to three times the current legal limit for recreational users.
  • Purchase high-THC infused products.
  • Grow more than four plants in their residence.
  • Have full protection from arrest, prosecution, and legal penalties, although patients will still have an affirmative defense.

Flu cases on the rise in Kitsap County

Flu season is upon us.

Hospitals, longterm care facilities and physicians are reporting an increased number of influenza cases. One person in Kitsap County who died recently tested positive for the flu.

Flu viruses have adapted, making the current flu shot somewhat less effective this year. Kitsap Public Health District is still urging residents to get the vaccination, as it still covers a number of flu strains and may offer some protection from the adapted strains.

The district offers low-cost flu shots for children (more information below). Free flu shots for moms are available through a program offered at Rite-Aid. The Department of Health has a flu vaccine finder tool on its flu information page.

A full news release from the health district is posted below and downloadable here:  Continue reading →

Kitsap leads state in rate of tobacco sales to minors

blog.tobaccoKitsap County store clerks led the state last year in their willingness to illegally sell cigarettes to minors.

That’s according to a report released Thursday by the state Department of Health. The annual Synar Report uses unannounced compliance checks to track illegal tobacco sales. During the checks, underage teens, working with law enforcement, attempt to buy cigarettes from randomly-selected retailers.

The Liquor Control Board carried out 28 random checks in Kitsap last year. Nearly 40 percent of the checks resulted in illegal sales to minors. That figure eclipsed the statewide average of 15 percent and landed Kitsap atop the list of worst offenders for the year. (Click on the graphic to expand).

DOH spokesman Tim Church cautioned that the small sample size means sales at a few stores can sway the numbers from year to year. Local health agencies should use the data to identify compliance trends over time, he said.

The trend in Kitsap isn’t encouraging. The county’s compliance rate steadily worsened since 2010, when about 9 percent of random checks resulted in sales.

“It’s bad news for Kitsap County for sure,” Kitsap Public Health District Administrator Scott Daniels said. “It’s bad news for health of the kids who buy tobacco, it’s bad for the whole community.” Continue reading →