Eastern State Hospital to regain accreditation

Eastern State Hospital has passed its latest review and will be recommended for reaccreditation, Department of Social and Health Services spokesman John Wiley said Monday. The committee of The Joint Commisson, the accreditation agency, is expected to meet next month to issue a final decision. The Medical Lake psychiatric hospital had its accreditation suspended in December, a month after a patient strangled another patient. The decision stemmed from findings in a routine inspection of the hospital, but it took the homicide into account. The Joint Commission’s report detailed items like a karaoke machine’s cords, as well as other cords and patients’ belts, that were left unsecured and were hazardous to patient safety because they could be used for strangulation. Wiley said the items were secured and the hospital submitted a report back to The Joint Commission within 72 hours of the decision. The Joint Commission conducted a follow-up survey on Jan. 31. Wiley said the commission issued a letter saying the hospital met the criteria to pass the survey and the staff would recommend a level of accreditation contingent on the hospital continuing to pass additional reviews. “It’s our expectation based on what The Joint Commission staff is telling us that we will go to that higher level of accreditation,” Wiley said.