Power of Providers (POP) Initiative

Last updated April 27, 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

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. Both webinars are approved for free continuing education credits for nurses (RN, LPN), pharmacy technicians, and pharmacists. For each event, one contact hour is available for nurses, and one continuing pharmacy education credit is available for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Healthcare professionals can receive two credits by attending both webinars.

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

Provider Spotlight

Not Quite Retired

In this Provider Spotlight, Bob Smithing reflects on community care, burnout and building what matters in health care practices with a little humor mixed in for good measure.

Bob Smithing has built a career that spans education, advocacy and support for independent practices. He serves as executive director of APRNs of Washington State (formerly ARNPs United of Washington State) and teaches in the nurse practitioner program at Pacific Lutheran University. Even though he has stepped away from clinical practice, his focus remains on strengthening primary care and helping clinicians create community‑rooted practices that truly know their patients.

He admits he has not done so great at retirement. "I can’t really say I’m retired because I’m totally failing retirement," Bob laughs.

Bob also runs a small consulting practice that supports clinicians who want to open their own practices. "We help to nurture entrepreneurs who are trying to open primary care practices and other practices," he explains. "That skill set isn’t taught very well in schools." He encourages creating space where the patients are comfortable in the office. "People are more comfortable in their space. Who likes to go to a big hospital?" Bob thinks they should know your name. "In the TV show Cheers, they would know you by name when you walked in the door," Bob adds. "That’s the way practices should be. They should know you by name."

Continue Reading

Burnout and Pace for Clinicians

For Bob, a method to avoid burnout, and one he was unknowingly practicing was "forest bathing." He tells us, "it has been shown to decrease stress and fight fatigue and burnout." Even if he was charting, he was decompressing. "Getting out of suburbia and into the wilderness helped with burnout and sanity. We were just ahead of the game when we started going out into the woods; we didn’t know we were doing something avant‑garde."

"For early‑career clinicians, my advice is: find a practice where you are comfortable and that has local control," he says. "If you can, start with a slower‑paced practice. Then I think that you will do better long‑term." He urges clinicians not to normalize cutting corners just to meet productivity demands. "There’s a fine line between stretching and being pushed to do things that you’re not supposed to do."

He encourages clinicians to consider small community based practices where they can shape how care is delivered.

"I think we’re losing the skill set of entrepreneurship, and I think the corporate practice of healthcare is not healthy for our communities," he says frankly. "I also think it’s more expensive." In large systems, he notes, pressure builds to see more patients in less time. And rushed visits are not good for the patient or clinician. Relationships are not built in a short 5-minute chat, that may not get to the root of the problem.

He adds that there are many financial realities that shape who can enter the profession. "People cannot afford to go to professional schools if they don’t have some seed money to get started," Bob notes. "Anything we can do to bring in individuals from populations that haven’t had the opportunity, we should be doing. People are more comfortable getting care from folks who look like them and who speak their language."

Despite the barriers, he does believe there are ways newer clinicians can protect their wellbeing and practice with integrity.

Collaboration and Hope

Bob believes that individual clinicians should look to professional associations and public health partners to try to carry the systemic challenges together. "I am totally of the belief that everybody needs to be a member of their professional organizations at the national, at the state, and at the local level, and then also a member of a specialty organization," he explains. Clinicians don’t have the time to join the political arena and try to prevent or promote legislation that could harm or be beneficial. However he stresses the importance of being "at the table, not on the menu," and if your organization is not representing your perspective, policymakers don’t hear from you.

He also praises departments of health, local and state, partnerships that can help with various needs. Among many other services the Vaccine for Children program helped a great deal. The VFC "allowed us to provide vaccines to children whose families couldn’t afford them and allowed us to stock those vaccines. We had a vaccine refrigerator insured for about $50,000 worth of vaccines. A small practice can’t afford to lay out that money and wait months for reimbursement. Partnering with the health department made it possible."

Reflecting on hope, Bob shares one of his techniques is through humor. And a well timed ‘dad joke’ is the perfect way to do it. "Humor, used appropriately, is a good way to provide a bit of hope."

"Why does a good golfer wear two pairs of pants? Because they’re hoping to get a hole in one."

He also sees hope in the future through the people he mentors. Students that are inspiring hope through a new way of doing things, advocates with or without degrees, but deep passion to help using the knowledge of what their communities need.

"What really brings me hope, though, are the students—their enthusiasm and their willingness to look at things differently and question how we’ve always done them, in a healthy way. Also, the entrepreneurs who look at the box and say, "My solution isn’t in the box. I’m going outside the box to do something that hasn’t been done before."

"Another group that gives me hope is patient advocates. They advocate for diseases, processes, or clinics, and they’re very important to what we do. I fear they’re frequently overlooked and undervalued because they don’t have professional degrees. You don’t need a professional degree to know what might be best for your community."

Closing Thoughts

"I’m a firm believer that if there’s a problem, somebody has to take care of it, and if no one else is doing it, that somebody may need to be you. I don’t shy away from a challenge."

"And again: if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. I don’t like to be on the menu—I prefer to eat."

Washington Updates, Highlights and Information

Vaccines

A co-branded postcard highlighting Washington's ongoing support for equitable access to childhood vaccines is available for all communities to share through the Childhood Vaccine Program. The postcard reassures families that our state continues to follow the recommended American Academy of Pediatrics child and adolescent immunization schedule, and that vaccine availability and school requirements have not changed. Designed for community outreach, the postcard is available in 19 languages to support equitable access to vaccine information. Providers and partners can download this and other resources from the Immunization Materials page.
DOH launched a new Vaccine Recommendations webpage in response to House Bill 2242 (PDF). The page provides current state immunization recommendations and related guidance for health care providers and local health jurisdictions.
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.
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

Blood Lead Action Level

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 27: More Granular Risk Score May Improve Maternal Morbidity Prediction (MedPage Today)
April 25: Preeclampsia Has Existed for Roughly 5,000 Years, but There Is Still No Cure — Why Is It Called the "Disease of Theories"? (Discover Magazine)
April 24: Global immunization effort helps 18 million kids ‘catch up’ on vaccines (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)
April 24: Study Has Warning About Missed Hepatitis B Shots at Birth (MedPage Today)
April 24: COVID virus clears from placenta weeks after maternal infection, study suggests (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)
April 24: Flu vaccination rate lags in US nursing homes (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)
April 23: Moderna’s combo flu-COVID vaccine receives European authorization (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)
April 23: HPV risk in women extends beyond young adulthood, with late-life increase (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy)
April 22: U.S. Officials Nix Publication of Study on COVID Vaccine Effectiveness (MedPage Today)
April 21: FDA Approves New Standalone Combo Pill for HIV (MedPage Today)

Events

Upcoming Events

April 29: Closing the Gap: Strategies for Increasing HPV Vaccination Rates (CME Webinar)
April 30: Youth, Providers, Partners: A Unified Approach to Adolescent Immunization Engagement (Association for Immunization Managers)
May 7: Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy: Lessons from Motivational Interviewing (Boost Oregon)
May 9: Pediatric Health Equity Summit (in Auburn, Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics)
May 13-14: Washington State One Health, Zoonotic, and Vector-borne Disease Conference (Washington State Department of Health)
May 15: AI in Healthcare Settings: Navigating Safety, Equity, and Accountability (Washington State Department of Health)
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.