OLYMPIA- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began its re-survey at Western State Hospital (WSH) today to determine if the hospital can retain its certification and remain eligible for nearly $65 million in yearly federal funding.
The re-certification survey is the result of a Systems Improvement Agreement between the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), which oversees state-operated psychiatric hospitals, and CMS to ensure WSH meets Conditions of Participation (CoP) necessary for certification. The agreement was signed in June 2016 after CMS found several deficiencies at the 857-bed hospital and gave the hospital up 13 months to correct issues.
As outlined in the agreement, DSHS and hospital staff have focused on the following areas:
- Active treatment and treatment planning
- Patient care and patient rights
- Safety and security for patients, staff and the community
- Leadership and accountability
- Recruitment, hiring, training and employee engagement
- Maintaining buildings and grounds
“The CMS surveyors’ return to Western to observe our improvements is the next step in our journey to transform the hospital,” said DSHS’ Behavioral Health Administration Assistant Secretary Carla Reyes. “Staff has worked hard to improve the quality of care and safety for patients, staff and the community. While it took years of staffing and resource challenges to get where we were, the team is dedicated to making all of the necessary improvements today and going forward.”
The surveyors are expected to spend several days conducting the hospital survey. DSHS will be notified of the results at a later date. More information about the agreement can be found on the DSHS website.