This week, WSHA presented our annual Community Health Leadership Award to MultiCare Inland Northwest Hospitals for their Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Resource Team.
Spokane County is facing a worsening opioid crisis, and many individuals hesitate to seek hospital care due to past negative experiences or fear of police involvement. In response, MultiCare Deaconess and Valley hospitals launched their MOUD Resource Team.
Everyone deserves to be cared for when they are sick, but only 25 percent of patients seeking inpatient treatment for opioid use disorder receive access. MultiCare created a space where they feel safe, seen and supported. Kindness and patience can make all the difference in someone’s recovery.
As the only hospital-based MOUD team in Spokane, MultiCare offers both short- and long-term care. The program’s person-centered approach is led by a two-person team: a registered nurse specializing in addiction management and a peer support specialist with lived experience in recovery. By providing compassionate, stigma-free care, the MOUD Resource Team works to rebuild trust in the health care system and ensure better outcomes.
We’re proud to honor MultiCare Inland Northwest Hospitals with the 2025 Community Health Leadership Award. Their commitment to equity, harm reduction and whole-person care is transforming lives and setting a powerful example for hospitals across Washington state.
Sincerely,
Cassie Sauer
WSHA President & CEO
cassies@wsha.org