TACOMA — An inspection of Western State Hospital that wrapped up Thursday found the psychiatric hospital is in “immediate jeopardy” because of a staffing shortage, according to the state Department of Social and Health Services.
The finding ratchets up the threat of losing federal funding that is critical to keeping the more than 800-bed Lakewood psychiatric hospital open at full capacity.
As much as $64 million a year in federal funding could be at risk.
An assault in August by one patient on another led the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to put the hospital on notice it was violating federal standards and had been placed on track to lose funding Dec. 2.
The latest finding shortens the time Western State has before losing funding to 23 days, DSHS deputy assistant secretary Victoria Roberts said.
It’s not clear when that clock started to run.
To address the staffing shortage, DSHS has canceled a hospital expansion that was underway with funding from state lawmakers. The expansion is a response to court orders for more timely treatment of patients.
Roberts said DSHS is struggling to hire and keep psychiatrists because of a national shortage and because the department doesn’t pay as well competing agencies and practices.
Western State is short on nurses as well.
Vacancies have staff members clocking frequent overtime.
DSHS is turning to the private sector for help. It has hired temporary contract psychiatrists and wants to find a contractor that can fill positions on a larger scale.
