In August, Optum Care welcomed state and federal leaders who are shaping Washington’s healthcare future and working to expand access to quality and affordable care: Washington Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham; United States Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, and United States Congressman Rick Larsen. Each leader visited one of our facilities in Snohomish County to hear directly from our care teams, learn how we’re working to deliver primary and specialty care that helps people live better, and discuss key issues facing our state’s health care workforce and future.
Washington Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham and Department of Health Leadership Tour Optum Walk-In Clinic in Everett
We were grateful for the chance to host Secretary Worsham and the Department of Health (DOH) leadership team at our Gunderson location, where they toured our walk-in clinic and ambulatory surgery center. The DOH team also met with our clinicians and care teams to discuss health care affordability, the shortage of healthcare providers affecting Washington, especially in rural and underserved communities, and how we’re providing value-based care (VBC). In a VBC setting, care is designed around helping you stay healthy instead of simply treating you when you’re sick.
Congressman Rick Larsen Tours Our Stanwood Clinic
On August 12, we welcomed United States Representative Rick Larsen (WA-2) to our Optum Stanwood facility, which has been providing primary care for almost 30 years, including family and internal medicine, pediatrics, urgent care, and lab services. Our team discussed the impacts of federal policy changes to Medicare and Medicaid and opportunities to expand access to healthcare for rural communities, including the Stanwood clinic’s expansion to support the growing population in this rural area.
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene Tours Optum Arlington
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-1) has been a champion for expanding access to primary care and telehealth. She visited our Arlington clinic on August 13 to hear from our Optum care team about the local impacts of recent federal policy changes and the role ambulatory surgery centers play to provide access to more affordable care across the region. She was joined by members of our Optum care team as well as two local students – a pre-med student from the University of Washington and a medical student currently attending Washington State University’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.
Across all three visits, one thing was clear: Washington’s leaders are focused on improving health care in our state — how to strengthen the clinical workforce and expand access to primary and preventive care to help patients and make health care more affordable.
These are questions we work to find solutions for every day, and we’re grateful to Secretary Worsham and DOH, Congresswoman DelBene, and Congressman Larsen for taking the time to visit, to listen, and to engage with our teams.