For immediate release: January 12, 2006 (06-005)

Contacts:
Gary Bennett, Facilities and Services Licensing 360-236-2902
Donn Moyer, Communications Office 360-236-4076

OLYMPIA ¾ The Department of Health has immediately suspended the license of Puget Sound Behavioral Health — a psychiatric hospital in Tacoma owned and operated by Pierce County. The department ordered the facility to immediately stop admitting new patients. All current patients must be relocated by January 20.

The department found serious violations of laws and rules that have directly affected the health and safety of patients as well as staff.

"Patients are not receiving the most basic services a hospital must provide daily to ensure safe and effective care," said Gary Bennett, Director of Facilities and Services Licensing. "The shortage of staff and leadership has led to unnecessary injury to patients and staff. Puget Sound Behavioral Health is not a safe place for some of the most vulnerable patients our health care system cares for."

A Department of Health investigative team inspected the facility on January 6 after receiving complaints. That team found that key leadership positions were vacant, including the medical director; many shifts had no nursing supervision in the facility. Staffing levels were so low, disturbed patients could not be managed. Police had to use a TASER (an electronic stun-gun) to control one agitated patient. On another occasion, a staff person was injured by a disturbed patient. Special diets were not being provided or considered. Diabetic patients and others with special dietary needs were fed a general high carbohydrate diet.

"This is a very serious, even tragic, situation. We are obligated to take whatever action is necessary to protect this very fragile group of patients," Bennett said.

The Department of Social and Health Services, which operates Western State Hospital in nearby Lakewood, said it will work with the Pierce County Regional Support Network as it relocates patients under the Department of Health order.

 MaryAnne Lindeblad, Interim Director of the Mental Health Division in the Health and Recovery Services Administration, said Western State is currently at its patient limit but that it would make some beds available in a non-hospital setting on its campus. She said the division also would work with Pierce County as it looks for new community placement opportunities and coordinates with other regional support networks around the state to find suitable homes for Puget Sound patients.

The hospital has the right to a hearing before a department health law judge within 20 days that could modify the summary order to close. If the hospital is unable to assure the department that it is correcting these problems, it could lose its license to operate.

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