Power of Providers (POP) Initiative

Last updated April 9, 2026

Welcome Health Care Professionals!

Thank you for joining us and thousands of other health care professionals across the state. We recognize that you are trusted messengers in your communities and are proud to be your partner in building a Washington where all people have access to care and accurate health information.

We are here to support you. To learn more about the Power of Providers (POP) program, our mission and vision, and the benefits of being a member, visit our About POP page. Send questions about the program to powerofproviders@doh.wa.gov. Please use this flyer to share information about POP with your colleagues! (PDF)

Check out POP’s new webpages:

Long COVID information for health care providers: updated monthly.
Well-Being in Health Care

Let us know what you’d like to see on the pages in the future.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

The Power of Providers has a bi-monthly newsletter that provides relevant resources, stories, information and tools to support the work you do. To subscribe sign up here: Washington State Department of Health and enter your email address. The POP newsletter can be found near the end of the list, under the Center for Access to Whole Person Care. The POP newsletter can be found near the end of the list, under the Center for Access to Whole Person Care.

Special Announcement

May 2026 POP Webinar Promotion

Registration is open now for two free POP webinars happening in early May for healthcare professionals and other interested partners.

May 8: A New Era of Measles in the US and Steps We Can Take to Prevent Sustained Measles Transmission in Washington

The US has seen several large measles outbreaks happening sequentially across the country leading to substantial numbers of measles cases, health complications, and deaths. While our measles elimination status is under threat, there are steps we can take to ensure high rates of vaccination to keep our communities safe from sustained transmission. This presentation from Dr. Eric Chow will explore the personal, clinical and public health actions we can take to mitigate the risk of measles.

Eric J. Chow is the Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Immunization for Public Health – Seattle & King County and is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Washington.

Visit POP’s Long COVID Resources for Providers webpage to view previously recorded webinars from Dr. Chow.

May 15: AI in Healthcare Settings: Navigating Safety, Equity, and Accountability

This webinar will equip healthcare professionals with practical tools to evaluate AI safety, determine when and how to use AI in clinical settings, and make confident decisions about incorporating these tools into their practice.

Participants will learn how to assess AI tools for safety and effectiveness using established best practices, understand the importance of human oversight and accountability in clinical workflows, and explore what responsible AI use looks like in healthcare settings. Participants will get real strategies for reducing bias and ensuring AI tools work equitably and transparently for every patient.

Lucy Orr-Ewing leads Policy, Strategy and Research for the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) and is part of the founding leadership team. She leads CHAI’s Policy Workgroup of over 100 of the nation’s experts who convene to shape federal and state Health AI policy landscapes.

American Sign Language interpretation will be provided for both sessions. One contact hour is available at no charge for nurses (RN, LPN) who attend each webinar and complete an evaluation survey. Nurses who attend both events may earn credit for two contact hours.

Provider Approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing For 1 Contact Hour, Provider #18100.

Provider Spotlight

POP is excited to announce the provider spotlight is back. The power of community care, maintaining work-life balance and a super cool dog is the recipe for our next spotlight, Cris DuVall.

Meet Cris DuVall

Outside of working for Compass Health as a case manager in the San Juan Islands, Cris is also a clinical pharmacist at Ray’s Pharmacy on Orcas Island. Her commute involves a ferry boat, and a two day stay to help administer vaccines. She doesn’t just do it alone though. She gets some help from Ruby, her service dog. Among the challenges of working in an archipelago in the San Juans, Cris has found ways to make the challenges a little easier on her patients. Her work at an independent pharmacy allows her to think outside the box to support people coming in for a vaccine.

"When I’m administering shots, that’s where my dog Ruby shines," she said. "People come to see the 'shot dog.' Some even travel from other islands to get their vaccines because of Ruby. They bring their kids, or they come first and then return with their children so they can meet the dog."

Including Ruby encourages vaccinations and puts people at ease when faced with a shot.

"Ruby has become a motivator for people to come in and get their vaccinations. Some people even bring her treats afterward because she did such a great job supporting them. It’s a lot of fun and helps people overcome fears about shots or anxiety about being in a clinical setting."

Barriers for Islanders

Living on a beautiful island is a dream for a lot of people. But it does come with challenges of being a rural community. For starters, "there’s only one pharmacy on three different islands, and they’re all independent pharmacies. Right now, many insurers will not reimburse pharmacies for administering pediatric COVID-19 vaccines. They prefer them to be given in clinics."

But without pediatricians readily available, that is difficult. Additionally, other medications could be given at a pharmacy, but reimbursement is tricky as they are not considered medical settings. Participation in some programs can be challenging because sometimes their requirements are designed for clinical settings, not pharmacies. It can be difficult for independent pharmacies to participate due to a shortage of personnel.

However, Cris tells us that they are addressing their barriers by "working to build a robust year-round vaccination program. We try to provide vaccines for as many age groups as our licensure allows. "They are improving access by working to accept many insurance plans, so patients do not have to make costly, time-consuming ferry trips off the island. "We also try to streamline medication access. For example, we synchronize medications so patients can pick them up all at once instead of making multiple trips." Cris emphasized the importance of removing these barriers as a continuation of building and maintaining trust. "Building trust and strong relationships is also essential. Ruby helps with that. She makes me more approachable. People greet her first and then greet me. She’s my ambassador."

Building Relationships

As we continued our conversation about independent pharmacies, building relationships remained the thread that we have spoken about so many times in creating safe spaces for providing accessible whole care to communities. With independent pharmacies, particularly on an island, patients are friends, and neighbors.

Moreover, personal connection can improve a patient’s safety, says Cris. "Physicians might see someone for a short appointment, but we see patients frequently. Because of that, we sometimes notice side effects or medication issues quickly."

For example, we might say, "'you started this medication last week, and you look a little different. Let’s talk about it.' Those relationships allow us to catch problems early." Building that patient relationship extends to the provider as well, and the direct connection enables them to resolve issues quickly.

Burnout

A continuing topic surrounding health care is burnout. The impact can be felt across professional roles. Cris had some wisdom to share about how she manages it and offers thoughtful words to keep in mind as people enter this field. "Burnout is a real issue. Perspective and self-care are critical. Many people enter health care because they want to help others, but they sometimes lose sight of that motivation. I experienced that when working in large corporate retail settings. That environment didn’t align with my goals. I wanted to be in a community where I could connect with people. One of my professors said, 'People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.' I try to keep that in mind."

Hope

When talking about hope for the future of health care and access, Cris is thoughtful about creativity and resourcefulness. Living on the islands "People here often have multiple roles in the community and work together to support one another." She also has hope for future professionals entering health care, as she sees them motivated to make a difference in their communities. She also notes that medicine itself is working on collaboration, "Pharmacy schools are also emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. Students work with medical, nursing, and nutrition students, learning how to support each other and work as a team." She ends by reminding us, "when we collaborate effectively, we can provide excellent care and improve access to the medications and services people need."

Washington Updates, Highlights and Information

Vaccines

Notice from Office of Immunization: Please remove the phone number 833-VAX-HELP (833-829-4357) from any materials you share. If you see this number being used by one of our partners, please ask them to remove it as well. Although the Office of Immunization previously used this number, it is no longer associated with our agency and is now owned by a different entity. Unfortunately, this entity is attempting to scam or obtain personal information from callers. In at least one instance, a caller was quoted a fee to receive their vaccination record.
Please use the following number instead: 1-866-397-0337.
Interim Pediatric Measles Outbreak Vaccination Recommendations
Importance of Adult Immunizations: Manual for Community Health Workers and Health Promoters (PDF)
Measles Communications Toolkit for Washington State Partners (PDF)
Immunization for pregnant patients
West Coast Health Alliance, WA DOH, and Leading National Medical Organizations Continue to Recommend Hepatitis B Vaccination for Newborns
Eligibility for Publicly Funded Vaccines: A Guide for Providers (PDF)

Highlights

DOH is lowering the state blood lead action level to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) to better protect children and reduce exposure. Clinicians are asked to begin blood lead confirmatory and follow-up testing starting at 3.5 µg/dL. The new action level aligns with federal guidance and identifies children with blood lead levels higher than 97% of U.S. children under age 6.

These DOH webpages provide information to help you care for your young patients and prepare for the new action level:

The Blood Lead Testing Information for Health Care Providers webpage includes information about lead exposure risks, medical management recommendations, and other resources.
The Lead Publications page offers up to date state guidance for health care professionals and resources to share with families, such as the Lead and Your Child Quick Guide (PDF). The guide is available in eight languages and printed copies can be ordered free of charge by contacting DOH’s Lead Team.
Youth-serving medical and behavioral health providers and professionals are invited to join the DOH Youth Friendly Care Network. The network is a statewide initiative for providers and professionals who want to deepen their understanding of youth-friendly care principles and establish or enhance youth-friendly care in their practice. To learn more or express interest, visit: Youth Friendly Care Network | Healthier Washington Collaboration Portal.

Additional Information

Care-a-Van services have been updated! Visit the Care-a-Van Mobile Health Services webpage for a list of services and additional details about the March locations. All services are not offered at every event.
Washington confirms its first measles outbreak since 2023
Measles Cases in Washington State
Washington State Maternal Mortality Review Panel: Maternal Deaths 2021-2022
DOH Launches Measles Exposure Map to Help Keep Washingtonians Safe
Respiratory Immunization Dashboard: Explore influenza, COVID-19, and RSV immunization data for pediatric and adult populations
A Monthly Bulletin on Epidemiology and Public Health Practice in Washington - EpiTRENDS (PDF)
Grays Harbor County resident tests preliminarily positive for avian influenza

News

In the News

April 9: Flu vaccine may cut heart attack, stroke risk even when infection occurs (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)
April 9: States Face Another Challenge With Medicaid Work Rules: Staffing Shortages (KFF Health News)
April 9: Abortion Pill’s Safety Called into Question in Congressional Actions Based on Misleading Data (The Monitor KFF)
April 8: Eye symptoms may signal higher-severity long COVID (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)
April 7: Study Flags Gaps in PrEP Use Among Youth at Risk for HIV (MedPage Today)
April 8: Eye symptoms may signal higher-severity long COVID (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)
April 7: FDA Approves First Farxiga Generics for Type 2 Diabetes (MedPage Today)
April 7: Polls show most Americans still prefer providers to AI for health advice (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)
April 6: Flu Shot Effective at Keeping Kids Out of Hospital (MedPage Today)
April 3: State public health labs step up as CDC pauses testing for various pathogens, including rabies, mpox (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)

Events

Upcoming Events

April 13: Workforce as Strategy: A Practical Guide to Attract and Retain Key Personnel (National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health)
April 14: Unpacking the 2025 AIM Annual Survey: Trends, Challenges, and What’s Ahead (Association of Immunization Managers)
April 18: Strengthening Vaccine Confidence in Native Communities: Peer-to-Peer Support Session (National Council of Urban Indian Health)
April 21: Addressing the Resurgence of Measles (National Foundation for Infectious Diseases) CME NFID designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
April 23: Debriefing After A Traumatic Perinatal Event (University of New England)
April 23-24: TeleBehavioral Health Summit (Behavioral Health Institute at Harborview Medical Center/UW Medicine & Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center)
April 29: Closing the Gap: Strategies for Increasing HPV Vaccination Rates (CME Webinar)
Ongoing: Beyond Diagnosis: Vaccines Tailoring Vaccine Conversations to Patient Values and Risk Factors (MedPage Today)
Ongoing: Free Streaming of "Shot in the Arm" Documentary on PBS
Ongoing: Olsterholm Update Podcast (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of MN)
Monthly: Vaccinate Your Family’s Vaccination Collaborative Meeting
Monthly: 2025 Rural HPV Vaccination Learning Community Series (American Cancer Society)
Monthly: UW Long COVID Focus Group – The American College of Physicians (ACP), in partnership with the UW Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation and Recovery Clinic, is sponsoring an interest group with the goal of bringing health care providers, who care for Long COVID patients, together to provide education and share resources, experiences and clinical expertise

Resources

The Power of Providers initiative offers peer-to-peer webinars on a variety of topics, including Long COVID, behavioral health support for health care workers, vaccine hesitancy, and more. Vaccine topics are on this page in the Training Videos and Webinar Recordings section below.

Please go to the following pages for these specific topics:

Long COVID: Long COVID Resources for Providers
Behavioral health support: Well-Being in Health Care

Free Printed Patient Materials

Health care providers in Washington can access the POP Shop and order free materials in multiple languages to promote vaccination against COVID-19 and other illnesses. The POP Shop allows you and your staff to order posters, stickers, informational brochures and flyers, discussion guides, and much more.

Get step-by-step instructions (PDF) for ordering here.