2017 DSHS News Releases

Welcome to DSHS' news releases for 2018. You may sort by keyword, release number and date.

To read archived news releases, please choose the appropriate year below:

 

Public hearing on proposed relocation of opioid treatment program in Spokane set for June 27

May 30 2018

DSHS Office of Communications, Kelly Stowe, 360.902.7739

OLYMPIA -- The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has scheduled a public hearing in Spokane County to receive comments on plans for the relocation of the substance use disorder treatment program Spokane Treatment Solutions on Wednesday, June 27, 2018. 

The proposed services from this relocating treatment program will improve access to essential health care for people in Spokane County who are dependent on opioids, such as heroin and OxyContin. 

The proposed program ...read the full news release

Hearing on proposed opioid treatment program in Grays Harbor set for June 22

May 30 2018

DSHS Office of Communications, Kelly Stowe, 360.902.7739

OLYMPIA- The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has scheduled a public hearing in Grays Harbor County to receive comments on plans for a new substance use disorder treatment program We Care Daily Clinic on Friday, June 22, 2018.

The proposed services from this new treatment program will improve access to essential health care for people in Grays Harbor County who are dependent on opioids, such as heroin and OxyContin. 

The proposed program, We Care Daily Clinic, is ...read the full news release

CMS concludes survey at Western State Hospital

May 24 2018

DSHS Office of Communications, Kelly Stowe, 360.902.7739

OLYMPIA- Surveyors with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) left Western State Hospital (WSH) today, Friday, May 25, after concluding their review of the state’s largest psychiatric facility.

Twenty-two surveyors arrived at the hospital on Monday, May 14 to inspect wards, treatment plans, and to interview staff to ensure that 26 Conditions of Participation are being met – a requirement for the hospital to retain its federal certification.

During the survey, CMS ...read the full news release

Western State Hospital staff working to mitigate risk found by CMS surveyors

May 23 2018

DSHS Office of Communications, Kelly Stowe, 360.902.7739

 

OLYMPIA- On Tuesday evening, May 22, surveyors on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) discovered a concern with fire detectors that they felt could pose a hanging risk to patients.

CMS issued a citation, also known as an immediate jeopardy (IJ), to the hospital because of the potential for harm or serious risk to patients. The hospital has implemented a plan to mitigate this risk, which it will submit to surveyors today.

If CMS accepts the ...read the full news release

DSHS seeks recertification at a residential habilitation center in Buckley

May 22 2018

DSHS Office of Communications, Kelly Stowe, 360.902.7739

OLYMPIA – The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) announced today that it will appeal the decertification of a portion of Rainier School in Buckley, a residential habilitation center for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Last spring, surveyors from the federal ...read the full news release