MultiCare Health System

12/19/2025

The holidays can mean different things to different people — joy and connection for some, anxiety and obligation for others. If this season feels especially challenging, you’re not alone.

Grief can feel particularly complex during the holidays. Traditions and gatherings may highlight the absence of a loved one, and family members may have different expectations about how to celebrate or honor the season. These differences can create tension or confusion during an already emotionally charged time.

Here are some ways to care for yourself if you’re grieving this season, along with guidance on how to support others who may be experiencing loss. https://multica.re/4pHkXzg

12/18/2025

Employees (or elves) at MultiCare Valley Hospital donated over 400 gifts to children in need at nearby Broadway Elementary and North Pines Middle School.

“Us that work at a hospital, we just want to give back. Obviously, we do that when people come to us for care. But this time of year, there is so much more need folks have that are not necessarily health care related,” said Valley Hospital COO Dan Springer. “If we can give back like this, we want to.”

The tradition of Valley hospital employees coming together to buy presents for nearby students started nine years ago. According to North Pines School counselor Rhiannon Catlett, the tradition did not stop even in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more at The Spokesman-Review.

Presents for local families in need filled up five cars outside Valley Hospital Wednesday morning amid the windstorm.

12/18/2025

Update for December 18: As of this morning, clinics are open and operating. Due to continued inclement weather, clinics, including Indigo Urgent Care, may experience power outages or closures.

All hospitals continue to be operating normally.

Consider calling ahead or checking your patient portal before your appointment.

12/18/2025

No, that ringing sound you’re hearing isn’t just in your head — but people around you probably can’t hear it, either.

Tinnitus may sound different to everyone, from a ringing, whooshing or hissing to static from a television, an electric zap or chorus of crickets. So, when does tinnitus evolve from a minor annoyance to a debilitating condition?

Tinnitus may sound different to everyone. When does ringing in your ear evolve from a minor annoyance to a debilitating condition?

12/17/2025

Social media is full of trending health care treatments. Health literacy helps you research and make smart choices—but how do you know what’s accurate? https://multica.re/4af9jXP

“If you’re reading an article that raises some alarms or questions, you don’t want to put all your trust in that one article,” explains Gretchen LaSalle, MD, a family medicine provider at MultiCare Rockwood Clinic. “For science’s sake, you want to look at the overwhelming evidence, not just one piece. So, try looking it up from other sources and see if multiple people came to the same conclusion.”

12/17/2025

Many clinic locations are currently experiencing a power outage due to inclement weather and will be closed today. Hospitals are operating normally. Please call ahead or check your patient portal before coming to your appointment. Phones may be down.

12/17/2025

Does heart disease run in your family? Has anyone been diagnosed with cancer?

You’ve probably seen questions like these on medical forms — and for good reason. Your family health history can offer powerful clues to help guide your health decisions today and in the future.

“As technology and scientific knowledge advances, we’re able to catch conditions like hypertension or colon cancer earlier and earlier,” says Jennifer Banks, MS, ARNP, FNP-C, a board-certified family nurse practitioner at MultiCare Rockwood Clinic – Quail Run. “If we know that a condition runs in your family, we can help you take steps to prevent it or catch it early — decreasing any potential negative impact on your health.”

We’ve gathered suggestions to help you explore your family health history — and take action about what you learn: https://multica.re/49rUbWv

12/16/2025

Make sure you have Emergency Alerts enabled on your phone! We will have wind, rain, and high waters this week and we want you to be in the know.

The Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) is a system that broadcasts public safety messages (like Flood Evacuation Alerts) to people’s phones based on location.

So, how do you make sure Emergency Alerts are enabled?

For Apple iPhones:
• Tap “Settings” > “Notifications”
• Scroll to the bottom of the screen to get to “Government Alerts.”
• Under “Government Alerts” tap the switch next to “Public Safety Alerts” to turn them ON or OFF. The circle should be on the right-hand side of the switch, and the switch should turn green.
• Also under “Government Alerts,” tap “Emergency Alerts.” For older phones, this will simply turn Emergency Alerts ON. For newer phones, this will take you to another menu. Here you can turn Emergency Alerts, Sound, and sometimes Local Alerts ON.
• Some iPhones have an "Always Deliver” option. Make sure “Always Deliver” is on.

For Android Phones:
• We recommend that you use the search function in “Settings” to find “Wireless Emergency Alerts” or “Public Safety Messages." You may have to click the three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the screen, click settings and click alert types.
• If you can’t find “Emergency Alerts” by searching in “Settings,” try searching for “Emergency Alerts” in the text message app, instead. You may have to click the three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the screen, click settings and click alert types.
• Once in the “Wireless Emergency Alerts” menu, make sure all alerts are turned ON (i.e. “Extreme Threats," “Severe Threats,” and “Public Safety Messages”). The circle should be on the right-hand side of the switch.

Instructions may vary depending on your phone. For other questions, please refer to your mobile phone carrier and/or mobile phone manufacturer’s website.

To check if Wireless Emergency Alerts are turned on for other types of phones (not Apple iPhones or Android Phones), you will need to do the following:

Contact your mobile phone carrier and/or manufacturer's website for more information. If you already get AMBER Alerts, you may get these alerts, too. But it's not guaranteed because phones use different settings.

12/16/2025

Weight loss can feel like climbing a mountain — challenging and overwhelming. But what if there’s a way to make that climb a bit more manageable? Enter weight-loss medications, otherwise known as anti-obesity medications or incretin-based therapies. These tools can be used to help optimize weight-loss efforts.

Let’s dive in and explore how these medications work, who might benefit and if they’re right for you.

A MultiCare dietitian addresses the facts about weight-loss medications, including what they are, how they work and who they benefit.

12/15/2025

UPDATE, Dec. 16: All listed clinics are now open and operating with regular hours.

We will continue to monitor the situation.
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Due to flooding and local evacuations, the following locations will remain closed for the day:

MultiCare Indigo Urgent Care – Tukwila and Kent Station
MultiCare Kent Clinic: Endocrinology Specialists, Family Medicine, Imaging Services, OB/GYN, Nephrology Specialists, Pain Management and Laboratories Northwest
Mary Bridge Children's Hospital's Therapy Center - Renton

If you have an appointment scheduled, please contact your clinic to reschedule at a later time. The safety of our patients and our staff is our priority—thank you for understanding.

Water can move faster than it looks, making traveling through any moving water very dangerous. Monitor local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information, and follow the instructions of state, local, and tribal officials.

12/15/2025

The holidays can be a time of joy and togetherness with loved ones, but — let’s be honest — family gatherings can also be complicated. Sometimes old wounds resurface, disagreements arise or tensions escalate into conflict, turning a festive vibe into a stressful one.

Navigating family dynamics can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to derail your holiday season. We’ve got tips to help you preserve your sense of calm and support more positive, meaningful interactions with those you care about. https://multica.re/49dpvZ4

12/15/2025

Approximately 3 million people in the United States will be diagnosed with anemia during their lifetimes.

For women, though, iron deficiency is usually at the root of their anemia.

Women are more susceptible to iron deficient anemia, often because of periods and pregnancy, but you can prevent and treat low iron levels.