Oregon State Police are investigating a patient death that occurred March 18 at Oregon State Hospital in Salem, a psychiatric facility managed by the Oregon Health Authority, according to a report from the Salem Statesman Journal.
Police told the news outlet that they are actively investigating and do not suspect foul play. The patient’s death was “unexpected” and the person’s family has been notified, the Oregon Health Authority said in a statement to Becker’s. The incident has also been reported to CMS and The Joint Commission, according to the health authority.
Over the past several years, a series of patient safety-related incidents have occurred at the facility. The hospital received two immediate jeopardy warnings in 2024 related to a patient’s death and a patient who escaped during a transfer. In October, CMS determined that the hospital had made sufficient improvements to avoid losing federal funding, though it continues to face regulatory oversight amid ongoing quality and safety concerns.
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