MultiCare Covington Medical Center

Back-to-school jitters are a natural form of anxiety for many children, who may feel nervous about new teachers and sad over the loss of summer.

Back-to-school: How to help kids with first-day jitters

While walking and biking are ideal ways to get to school, they aren’t always feasible for families. Read our tips for safely transporting children to school by car and bus.

Getting to school safely, part two: Traveling by car or bus Walking and biking are ideal ways to get to school, but aren't always feasible. Here are tips for safely getting children to school by car and bus.

Discussions around mental health can easily be misinformed when relying on social media as a source. Are you using the terminology correctly?

5 mental health words you may be using wrong

Back-to-school season is an exciting time filled with new school supplies, renewed friendships, fall sports and packed lunches. It’s also a time to focus on your child’s health and well-being.

Prepare your student for the academic year and instill healthy habits to help them reach their full potential.

Back to school: 6 tips for supporting your child's body & mind Prepare your student for the academic year and instill healthy habits to help them reach their full potential.

Maybe you’ve had this experience — you’re at a doctor’s appointment and you have a question about your sexual health, but you feel self-conscious so you hesitate to ask.

Mark Anderson, MD, a board-certified urologist at MultiCare Urology Puyallup, refers to these as “doorknob questions.”

“They’re often the ones that people wait to ask until the very end of the appointment, when their hand is on the doorknob to leave,” he says. “We know it can feel embarrassing sometimes, but your sexual health is part of your overall health, so we welcome these questions.”

Your sexual health questions answered by a urologist Your sexual health is part of your overall health. A MultiCare urologist answers six common sexual health questions.

“Every community is unique,” says Erin Summa, health promotion coordinator for Mary Bridge Children’s Center for Childhood Safety. “Some have sidewalks, bike lanes and trained crossing guards while others don’t. Investigating what resources are available in your neighborhood and school can help your family make safe transportation choices.”

Getting to school safely: Walking and biking As leisurely summer days give way to the structure and routine of the school year, mornings can be a hectic time for families.

Find tips and advice to help you navigate the hectic back-to-school time and support the health and well-being of your children as they return to the classroom.

✏️ https://multica.re/4cDwusd

Jeff Cook attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new MultiCare neighborhood emergency room in Lacey in December 2023.

Little did he know that four weeks later, he would be back to visit again. This time as a patient.

New Lacey ER proves value of local emergency care A retired couple made use of the new neighborhood emergency room in Lacey just four weeks after attending the facility's opening ceremony.

While summer break is still at its peak, many high school graduates are preparing for the transition to college. As teens shop for dorm supplies, decide what to pack and fill out paperwork, there may be one important item missing from their to-do list — managing their health.

What vaccines your college freshman needs Help your college-bound teen stay as healthy as possible by ensuring they're vaccinated against preventable illnesses.

“Transportation and accessibility are big issues,” says Lavina Jethani, MD, a physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital.

One way Dr. Jethani and her colleagues at MultiCare Good Samaritan Rehabilitation Center support patients with mobility limitations is by taking them on an outing in the community prior to discharge from the hospital, when possible.

“We want patients to safely experience how getting around in a manual or power wheelchair may be different from navigating the flat floor in the hospital. And if they are going to use public transportation, then patients have to learn how to navigate that.”

Improving health equity for adults with disabilities Inaccessible environments and unintentional bias can make it difficult for people with disabilities to access the care they need to lead healthy lives.

You don’t have to lose consciousness to get a concussion. Learn the latest safe practices on our blog: https://multica.re/3qZUYtN

Once students are back to school, it’s important they have the right bag that won’t slow them down or cause wear and tear on their body.

Using a two-strap school backpack is generally considered the best method for transporting classroom materials. When worn properly, it’s easier on the body than using shoulder packs, briefcases or rolling bags. https://multica.re/3SoqfBt

Hours into your day at the lake, you look down to see your arm is already turning red. You quickly apply another layer of sunscreen, but unfortunately it’s too late.

You wake up the next day with bright red skin that’s hot to the touch. At what point do you need to seek professional care, versus simply treating your symptoms and waiting it out? https://multica.re/3A5NOsq

Backpacks, check. Pencils, check. Vaccinations … check?

Most people, including adults, don’t like getting shots. It’s usually best when parents are straightforward with their children about what’s going to happen and provide emotional support while shots are being given.

Your guide to back-to-school immunizations Backpacks, check. Pencils, check. Vaccinations … check?

If you are one of the millions of Americans who take prescription medications, all that fun in the sun can put your health at risk.

“It’s important to be aware of how heat and sunlight might affect medications you’re taking. Many common medications, even over-the-counter drugs, can make you more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses or increase your chances of experiencing a sunburn.”

What to know about heat and medications Some medications can put you at risk on hot days or become less effective. Take precautions and properly store medication to protect your health.

It's World Breastfeeding Week.

Whether it’s hesitancy of the unknown with a first child, financial burdens or a busy work/life schedule, the decision of how to feed your baby is personal.

So, while breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for most infants and can reduce the risk of certain health conditions in both mothers and babies, it isn’t always easy.

Common breastfeeding challenges and tips How to feed your baby is a personal choice. Breastfeeding comes with health benefits for both nursing mom and baby, but also challenges.

Stomach pain and nausea come on a spectrum, and bowel habits vary from person to person. So, how can you tell when it’s simply short-term discomfort or something more serious?

Should I see a doctor: Stomach problems Stomach pain and nausea come on a spectrum, and bowel habits vary from person to person. So, how can you tell when it's simply short-term discomfort or something more serious?

Tinnitus — perceiving sounds that have no external source — is frustrating, and in some cases debilitating. It can disrupt sleep and interfere with your ability to concentrate, and can be associated with mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.

While there is no cure for most cases of tinnitus, there are steps you can take to minimize your perception of the sound and improve your quality of life.

What causes tinnitus and how to find relief Tinnitus -- perceiving phantom sounds like ringing -- can have several causes. Treating the underlying cause can help bring reduce the noise and bring relief.

UPDATE: Our patient care systems are now fully operational, thanks to our teams working diligently to recover from the CrowdStrike technology outage.

Many of our computer systems have been affected by the CrowdStrike technology outage. Our team members are working hard to minimize disruption to patient care and system operations, and we are bringing systems back up as quickly as possible.

Our emergency departments and Indigo Urgent Care locations remain open.

Delays are likely for scheduled surgeries and clinic appointments. If you have questions, reach out to the clinic where you are scheduled to receive care.

When you think of someone needing hip surgery, healthy and active people in their 20s or 30s probably don’t spring to mind.

But labral tears — when the cartilage around the hip joint socket is damaged — can happen to anyone. Hip preservation surgery is one treatment that can help a young person get back to their active lifestyle.

William Gross, 23, and Malinda Eichner, 39, are two such examples.

Hip preservation: The last frontier of orthopedic surgery When you think of someone needing hip surgery, healthy and active people in their 20s or 30s probably don't spring to mind.

Your best bet for making healthy food choices going into any situation is to make a plan. Scope out the situation ahead of time so you know what you’re getting into, formulate a plan and stick to it.

How to eat healthy in the summer Your best bet for making healthy food choices going into any situation is to make a plan. Here are some tips and tricks for staying on track.

M.A.S.H. Camp is unlike many summer programs in that it is free to attend. While program admission is competitive, it aims to reach students who may have something to contribute to the field.

“We’re looking for the students who are interested in science and math and engineering, and we’re looking for students who don’t have a 4.0 that we might be able to encourage. You never know who is interested in this career field, so we’re looking for various backgrounds.”

M.A.S.H. Camp inspires future health care workers When Olivia Brooks was younger, she was certain she wanted to become a physical therapist. But when she had the chance to attend MultiCare Academy for Students in Healthcare (M.A.S.H.) Camp, formerly known as Nurse Camp, the then-high school student lea...

“I describe PTSD as a decrease in well-being — to the point where it impacts a person’s ability to function after being exposed to a traumatic event,” says Joseph Tomsic, ARNP, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and outpatient medical director for the MultiCare Behavioral Health Network.

This means that a person may have PTSD if their symptoms are interfering with their relationships or their ability to work, attend school or pursue daily activities.

PTSD: How to get help and support a loved one Some people develop PTSD after experiencing trauma. Learn what the signs are, how its treated and how to support loved ones.

At 17, Nathan Eller was a competitive athlete who dreamed of running Division I track in college. But during his junior year of high school, Nathan was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, a rare cancer, and received treatment at MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital.

The experience later inspired him to pursue a career in diagnostic ultrasound — and led him right back to the place and health system that helped him heal.

“When I found out I was coming back to Tacoma for my clinical internship, I was over the moon,” Nathan says. “It was amazing to think that my experience was coming full circle.”

Cancer experience inspires patient to become sonographer Inspired by the test that uncovered his cancer, 17-year-old Mary Bridge Children's patient goes on to pursue a career in diagnostic ultrasound.

From biking scenic trails, to exploring waterways in a kayak, to simply lounging poolside, there’s no shortage of summertime activities to enjoy in the Pacific Northwest. However much we relish the sunshine, hot weather can also pose a danger. https://multica.re/4cJ2knV

Free lunches are available for children under 18, now through August 30th inside Mary Bridge Children’s Outpatient Center – Tacoma.

Mary Bridge Children's provides free summer meals for kids Through a partnership with the USDA, Mary Bridge Children's provides nutritious, free summer meals for kids and teens.