Western State Hospital in Lakewood is Washington state’s largest psychiatric hospital. About two-thirds of its more than 800 beds are filled by people who have been ordered held under a civil commitment because they are a danger to themselves or others. The other one-third of patients are in the forensic unit. They’ve been held after being found not guilty by reason of insanity, or were ordered by a judge to receive treatment to have their competency restored.
The medical staff is made up of registered nurses, mental health counselors, psychiatric technicians, nursing aides, psychiatrists and psychologists.
Hundreds have been assaulted by patients, which resulted in missed work days and medical costs that sent total claims into the millions of dollars.
Some examples:
• Healthcare support worker kicked by a patient suffered sprains to multiple body parts. Missed 958 days of work. Total claim: $255,556.
• Registered nurse assaulted by patient suffered bruises to multiple parts of her body. Missed 966 days of work. Total claim: $488,740.
• Psychologist struck by patient suffered multiple injuries. Missed 120 days of work. Total claim $23,300.
• Psychiatric aide struck by a patient and suffered multiple contusions. Missed 407 days of work. Total claim $78,186.
• Licensed practical nurse was assaulted by a patient and suffered sprains. Missed 199 days of work. Total claim $287,097.
• Registered nurse was struck by a patient and suffered a sprained neck. Missed 686 days of work. Total claim $199,319.
• Registered nurse was attacked by a patient and suffered a sprained back and neck. Missed 68 days of work. Total claim $56,034.
• Psychiatric technician was struck by a patient and suffered a knee injury. Missed 206 days of work. Total claim $39,726.
• Psychiatric aide assaulted by a patient suffered psychiatric distress. Missed 318 days. Total claim $96,520.
• Registered nurse was attacked by a patient and suffered a fractured hand. Missed 59 days of work. Total claim $6,642.
SOURCE: Washington Department of Labor and Industries
