MultiCare Health System

11/14/2025

The holidays can mean different things to everyone — joy and connection for some, anxiety and obligation for others. If you’re finding this season especially challenging, we’re here to help. Dig into our resources to find support, guidance and comfort.

Explore our top tips to eat mindfully, stay active and prioritize self-care.

11/14/2025

Your doctor orders a blood panel, and to your surprise it reveals — at the age of 30 — that you’re prediabetic. You think, “But I’m too young!”

This isn’t time to panic, says Michael Bota, MD, endocrinologist, and medical director for population health at MultiCare Connected Care.

“We’re not diagnosing you with a medical condition that’s incurable,” he says. “We’re just saying there’s a red flag, and now’s the time to make changes.”

Prediabetes can go undiagnosed for years, but one in three U.S. adults have this health condition. Learn the risk factors and how to prevent prediabetes.

11/13/2025

Learn how you can prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the number-one reason babies under 1 year old are hospitalized every year. If your kids do fall ill with RSV, there are several ways to help them feel more comfortable during their recovery.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) hospitalizes many kids before the age of 2. Know when to see a doctor and what preventative treatments are available.

11/13/2025

A stay in the NICU can be a stressful and emotional period. The experience is different for every family — knowing that it could be a long stay, parents should think of it as a marathon, not a sprint.

With everyone’s focus on caring for the newborn and postpartum mother, it’s easy for things like meals or other responsibilities to slip through the cracks. That’s where families and friends can make a difference.

Every NICU stay is different, but all families need support. Some ways to help include transportation, lodging, child care and meal prepping.

11/12/2025

Our Recruitment, Workforce Development, Clinical, and Patient Access teams attended the Tacoma Public Schools Trades & Career Event last week at the Tacoma Dome. We were proud to offer hands-on activities for students, families, and community members. Attendees practiced the basics of CPR, including chest compressions and providing breaths with a bag-valve mask. They also learned how to read a basic medication order, draw up medication, and administer it via IV.

We also showcased our exciting growth and career pathway programs, including MultiCare Academy for Students in Healthcare (M.A.S.H. Camp), volunteer opportunities, job shadows, paid training programs, entry-level jobs, and more.

Exploring our programs, here: https://multica.re/43nsWbS

11/12/2025

Your genes are more than just biological blueprints — they’re part of your story. They help shape who you are, from your height and hair color to the traits that make you uniquely you. But did you know your genes also hold clues about your health, including your risk for cancer?

Genetic testing — while not a crystal ball — can provide a window into that risk.

Your genes hold clues about your health. Find out how genetic testing can reveal your inherited cancer risk and guide decision-making for you and your family.

11/11/2025

More than 1,300 MultiCare employees have served – or are serving – in the U.S. military. Of those, about 150 are active members of the Veteran Resource Group, a community dedicated to supporting veteran employees and strengthening connections across MultiCare. This Veterans Day, the resource group is offering commemorative pins to honor our veteran employees.

These pins are another way for our veterans to connect with their coworkers and patients. “Recognizing military service is about connection,” says Matthew McCay, Veteran Advocacy Program manager and chair of the Veterans Resource Group. “When patients see that shared experience, it can facilitate better communication and quality of care."

Military service fosters a unique cultural understanding that builds trust among patients and colleagues. Clinicians with military backgrounds are more likely to recognize service-related health patterns and document them accurately, ensuring patients receive care tailored to their needs.

To all our veterans — thank you for your service.

11/10/2025

Breathing well is essential to living well — your respiratory health influences your energy level, your overall well-being and your ability to do activities that bring you joy. An investment in lung health pays dividends across your lifespan, just like caring for your heart.

Here are some tips to support healthy lungs.

You can improve your lung health by quitting smoking/vaping, reducing pollutants in the home, and getting regular checkups and exercise.

11/10/2025

Drinking alcohol is often a part of routines and traditions — we may turn to a glass of wine to unwind after a stressful day or look forward to sipping a festive cocktail at a holiday celebration.

Yet it’s becoming more common for people to drink less, or not at all.

But maybe abstaining altogether is not for you, or you’re not ready for that level of commitment yet. For the sober-curious or those ready to cut back on drinking, we’ve got some tips to help you get started.

Whether you're sober-curious or simply want to drink less, find out how mindful changes can help you cut back on drinking and support lasting healthy habits.

11/07/2025

"Nurses and all of the doctors, I just can't say enough about all of them," Deanna Hawley said.

Zachary Guss, MD, a radiation oncologist at MultiCare Cancer Institute, emphasized the importance of early detection in breast cancer cases.

"If we catch these early, then we can usually use less intense treatments and give a much better, and more favorable outcome," Dr. Guss said.

Hawley's message to other women remains clear and urgent. "Do not skip your mammogram. Don't do it."

SPOKANE, Wash. — A local breast cancer survivor is sharing her story of resilience and raising awareness about the importance of early detection and never skipping a mammogram.

11/07/2025

From spotting the warning signs to correctly testing, understanding your testosterone levels is more complicated than social media may lead you to believe.

Not everyone needs testing at the slightest change in muscle mass or libido, and ensuring you’re testing accurately is key to avoiding a misdiagnosis.

If you're not showing signs of testosterone deficiency that would otherwise be associated with age, you likely don't need to be tested.

11/06/2025

Did your son’s voice just drop an octave? Is your daughter suddenly dealing with more pimples than usual?

The telltale signs of puberty are showing.

We break down what you should look for and when to get support for your child as they navigate the many changes that come with maturing. https://multica.re/3JG8Ra2