Sydney Jackson

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald)

Providence and Aetna reach new multi-year agreement

After months of negotiations, the health provider and insurer managed to sign a new contract, they announced Tuesday.

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald)
Christina Cratty, right, and her mother Storm Diamond, left, light a candle for their family member Monique (Mo) Wier who died from an overdose last July during A Night to Remember, A Time to Act opioid awareness event at the Snohomish County Campus on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘It’s not a cake walk’: Overdose event spotlights treatment in Snohomish County

Recovery from drug addiction is not “one-size-fits-all,” survivors and experts say.

Christina Cratty, right, and her mother Storm Diamond, left, light a candle for their family member Monique (Mo) Wier who died from an overdose last July during A Night to Remember, A Time to Act opioid awareness event at the Snohomish County Campus on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Optum Everett Campus on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Optum WA cuts care for more than 23K Medicaid patients

On Nov. 1, patients in Snohomish County with certain Medicaid plans may need to find new doctors.

The Optum Everett Campus on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Kevin Clark / The Herald 
Friends and family line up to light a candle for those lost to an overdose during the 6th annual “A Night To Remember, A Time To Act” in Everett in 2022.

At overdose vigil in Everett, ‘share memories, grief, and also hope’

The eighth annual ‘A Night To Remember, A Time To Act’ will feature a resource fair and candlelight vigil Thursday.

Kevin Clark / The Herald 
Friends and family line up to light a candle for those lost to an overdose during the 6th annual “A Night To Remember, A Time To Act” in Everett in 2022.
James Lee helps one of the Sky Valley Transportation Program Courage to Change riders load her groceries into the van on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

As money runs out, free shuttle for rural SnoCo residents may end

The program launched with a one-time grant. Courage to Change is seeking funds to keep the much-needed service alive.

James Lee helps one of the Sky Valley Transportation Program Courage to Change riders load her groceries into the van on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Providence Behavioral Health Urgent Care employees chat after a short training presentation on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett behavioral health urgent care looks to help more patients

Providence says its behavioral health walk-in clinic, the only of its kind in Western Washington, is an underused resource.

Providence Behavioral Health Urgent Care employees chat after a short training presentation on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sea Mar Community Health Centers sign on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

After 47 citations, Sea Mar sues to save Marysville residency program

Sea Mar Health Center’s residency program was “the worst” one field rep had ever seen. Sea Mar argues the claims are unfounded.

Sea Mar Community Health Centers sign on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Community members and Providence Swedish employees cut the ribbon for the new Providence Swedish Rehabilitation Hospital on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

New $50M rehab hospital near Lynnwood is ‘more than just a building’

The 40-bed facility will help injured patients recover while freeing up crucial bed space at Providence Everett.

Community members and Providence Swedish employees cut the ribbon for the new Providence Swedish Rehabilitation Hospital on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Information inside the Carnegie Resource Center in Everett in 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Snohomish County set to launch $1.4M mobile opioid treatment program

Money for the program comes from the county’s opioid settlement fund — $35 million that will trickle in over 16 years.

Information inside the Carnegie Resource Center in Everett in 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Abril Gonzalez, left, and instructor Amber Samaniego, center, watch as Aleyda Chuc tests her glucose levels on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett Community College eases hurdles in medical assistant program

Students can now earn their national accreditation and be on their way to a hospital job in as short as 15 months.

Abril Gonzalez, left, and instructor Amber Samaniego, center, watch as Aleyda Chuc tests her glucose levels on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Counselor Emily Crawford, front left, and Kaliya “Ki Ki” Plakio, 8, front right, along with, back left to right, counselor Sanjana Saran, camper Joliviya “Jo Jo” Plakio, 7, and counselor Cora Garling, play with animal masks they made during Camp Prov at Forest Park in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. It is a summer camp for kids with disabilities and their siblings (Annie Barker / The Herald)

For parents, Camp Prov stands out amid a broken disability system

The Providence Everett summer camp provides a “small slice of normalcy” for kids with disabilities and their parents.

Counselor Emily Crawford, front left, and Kaliya “Ki Ki” Plakio, 8, front right, along with, back left to right, counselor Sanjana Saran, camper Joliviya “Jo Jo” Plakio, 7, and counselor Cora Garling, play with animal masks they made during Camp Prov at Forest Park in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. It is a summer camp for kids with disabilities and their siblings (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Swedish Edmonds Campus on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Three Snohomish County hospitals recognized by American Heart Association

The association noted Providence Everett, Swedish Edmonds and EvergreenHealth Monroe for improving heart attack and stroke outcomes.

Swedish Edmonds Campus on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Representative Rick Larsen speaks at the March For Our Lives rally on June 11, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Snohomish County congressional incumbents sail to general election

Now to see who Reps. Suzan DelBene, Rick Larsen will face in November. Rep. Kim Schrier will try to fend off Carmen Goers, a Republican.

Representative Rick Larsen speaks at the March For Our Lives rally on June 11, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Unionized Compass Health workers picket in front of the Compass Evaluation and Treatment building on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Amid financial troubles at Compass Health, workers picket for better pay

For over a year, the Everett-based nonprofit and workers have negotiated over a new labor contract.

Unionized Compass Health workers picket in front of the Compass Evaluation and Treatment building on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Julio Cortes, left, Annie Fitzgerald, Bryce Nickel

Diversity is key for Everett state rep candidates

Rep. Julio Cortes has advocated for marginalized groups in Olympia. His opponents say people with disabilities need their voices heard, too.

Julio Cortes, left, Annie Fitzgerald, Bryce Nickel
Lauren Davis, left, Lori Theis, Dunia Wabenga

Public safety is a central question in south Snohomish County race

Rep. Lauren Davis is running for a fourth term. Republican Lori Theis and Democrat Dunia Wabenga are trying to unseat her.

Lauren Davis, left, Lori Theis, Dunia Wabenga
Lead Mammography Technologist Starla DeLap talks about the different ways the Hologic 3D Mammography Exam can be situated around a patient on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Providence Everett launches early breast cancer detection program

Prevention4Me, the hospital’s new breast cancer risk assessment tool, will help doctors and patients expedite diagnoses and treatment.

Lead Mammography Technologist Starla DeLap talks about the different ways the Hologic 3D Mammography Exam can be situated around a patient on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Melinda Grenier serves patrons at her coffee truck called Hay Girl Coffee during the third annual Arlington Pride event in Arlington, Washington on Sunday, June 2, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Food safety team defends its work: It’s a ‘high pressure, thankless’ job

Management tried to set the record straight about long permit delays in Snohomish County.

Melinda Grenier serves patrons at her coffee truck called Hay Girl Coffee during the third annual Arlington Pride event in Arlington, Washington on Sunday, June 2, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald)

Global tech outage leaves a mark on Snohomish County

The CrowdStrike software update hit some systems at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett and briefly disrupted 911 operations.

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald)
FILE — Paxlovid pills in Santa Barbara, Calif., Jan. 6, 2021. As Covid cases crept up over the summer and new variants have emerged, the basics of preventing and managing the virus have come back into focus — including a critical tool for warding off severe disease and death: the antiviral treatment Paxlovid. (Alex Welsh/The New York Times)

COVID pills ‘sold out everywhere’ in Snohomish County, patients say

As federal COVID treatment programs end, a Paxlovid shortage emerges at local pharmacies. One patient called dozens with no luck.

FILE — Paxlovid pills in Santa Barbara, Calif., Jan. 6, 2021. As Covid cases crept up over the summer and new variants have emerged, the basics of preventing and managing the virus have come back into focus — including a critical tool for warding off severe disease and death: the antiviral treatment Paxlovid. (Alex Welsh/The New York Times)