King County Medical Society

10/20/2026

𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 in school, pulling back from work and friendships, and dying of overdose and su***de at rising rates. This is a health issue.

In 2024, KCMS physicians called for a 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐧 to study these health disparities and build support systems that actually reach boys and men, from mental health to mentorship.

We’re glad to see the conversation moving forward. There is a free screening of Gone Guys, a 45-minute documentary followed by a panel discussion.

Wednesday, November 4, 6:30 p.m.
Kerry Hall, 710 E Roy St, Seattle
Free registration: https://ow.ly/pxtI50ZZt1Q

10/18/2026

𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭.

Dr. Vania Rudolf co-authored our resolution on kratom and kratom-derived products. It was adopted at the Washington State Medical Association House of Delegates last month. It's now WSMA state medical policy.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐭.

"People are being exposed to increasingly potent kratom-derived products without consistent oversight, clear labeling, youth protections, or trauma-responsive pathways to care.

This moves WA toward evidence-informed regulation, stronger protections against high-potency synthetic derivatives, better clinical education, and reinvestment into prevention, harm reduction, and public health. Centering safety, dignity, and care over stigma."

Any KCMS member can write a resolution. https://ow.ly/4NkC50ZSu2Z

10/16/2026

𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝟒𝟎.
It's National Mammography Day

Guidelines recommend a mammogram every two years for women ages 40 to 74. If you have a family history, dense breast tissue, or other risk factors, 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧 whether you should start earlier or screen more often.

If it's been a while, today is a good day to schedule one.

10/14/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫'𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟓, when millions of people worldwide will participate in earthquake drills at work, school, or home!

At 10:15 a.m. (local time) on 10/15, you can join millions of people practicing earthquake safety.

If you live or work in a coastal area, ShakeOut day is also a great time to practice your tsunami evacuation routes. In Washington, ShakeOut is also the one day of the year the tsunami sirens are tested with the actual wailing sound.

Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills help people in homes, schools, and organizations worldwide improve preparedness and practice how to be safe during earthquakes. Register to participate in your state or country's drill at www.ShakeOut.org.

10/13/2026

𝐀 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬.
KCMS member . Vania Rudolf co-authored a resolution on inpatient stabilization and rapid MOUD initiation for pregnant patients with opioid use disorder. It was adopted at the Washington State Medical Association House of Delegates this month and is now WSMA policy.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐭.
"Pregnant patients using fentanyl deserve rapid, evidence-based stabilization. Not stigma, not delayed care, not discharge into preventable risk. Too many families fall through the gaps when hospitals lack clear admission, MOUD, and reimbursement pathways.
This makes compassionate inpatient care standard: faster methadone or buprenorphine initiation, extended trauma-responsive support, better parent-infant bonding, and sustainable reimbursement so every birthing hospital can offer dignity-centered care."

Any KCMS member can write a resolution. Join Us Today! https://ow.ly/TcFa50ZSu0p

10/10/2026

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲. 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭.
Physician Support Line connects you with volunteer psychiatrists: 1-888-409-0141, weekdays, no appointment needed. In a crisis, call or text 988.

10/07/2026

𝐅𝐥𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. Vaccination now means protection through the holidays, when people are indoors and traveling.

Public Health lists vaccination locations across King County, including clinics that see patients without insurance.
Where to get vaccinated in King County: https://ow.ly/eM9W50ZOs1P

10/04/2026

𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡. The most useful thing most people can do this month is check whether they are current on screening, and help one other person check too.

Screening guidelines have changed in recent years. If you are not sure what applies to you, ask your doctor rather than the internet.

10/01/2026

"𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐂𝐔𝐬, 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬."
Dr. Nancy Connolly wrote our Universal Primary Care resolution. It was adopted at the Washington State Medical Association House of Delegates this month and is now state medical association policy.
"𝑇𝑜𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑎 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚. 𝐼𝑡 𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚, 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐸𝐷 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒.
𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑎 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚. 𝑂𝑢𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑢𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚."

Any KCMS member can write a resolution. Join Us! https://ow.ly/lVBM50ZStT6
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09/28/2026

𝟐𝟏 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝟏𝟗 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝.
That's what KCMS physicians brought home from the WSMA House of Delegates in Spokane. Some of our resolutions:
*Prior authorization, on three separate fronts
*Who's liable when clinical AI fails
*Medical debt interest
*Universal primary care
*Clinical trial access for immunocompromised patients
*Screen time in schools
*Protecting adolescent access to gender-affirming care
*Kratom regulation
*Federal research grant integrity

𝗘𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
We're working with our KCMS lobbyist through the interim and into the 2027 session to turn these positions into bills and rules.

Next year the House of Delegates meets in Bellevue. King County holds 53 delegate seats.

If something in your practice is broken, let us help you. The resolution cycle restarts in the spring. You don't need experience. Bring us the problem. 𝑱𝑶𝑰𝑵 𝑼𝑺! https://ow.ly/AKb350ZSrZo