DC psych hospital under scrutiny after multiple patient incidents

The Psychiatric Institute of Washington (D.C.) is under scrutiny following a report that documented several incidents of abuse, neglect and concerning practices, The Washington Post reported Oct. 27.

Patients often enter the 130-bed facility for adults and adolescents through involuntary commitment, an emergency department visit or a physician evaluation. Hundreds of patients are admitted and discharged each month, according to the report. The hospital is the first and only freestanding psychiatric hospital in the District of Columbia and has been open for nearly 50 years, according to its website.

The patient safety incidents were documented by Disability Rights DC, a nonprofit watchdog organization, and published in a July report. It cited several incidents at the for-profit psychiatric hospital, including the arrest of a staff member who allegedly sexually assaulted a 17-year-old patient, as well as multiple patient-on-patient assaults that required emergency care.

The report also raised concerns that PIW may be underreporting incidents. During a 16-month period, PIW reported only seven incidents, while St. Elizabeths, another psychiatric hospital in the area, reported 149 incidents in March 2024 alone.

"At Psychiatric Institute of Washington, we are dedicated to caring for and treating patients with compassion, dignity and respect. Incidents are thoroughly investigated by regulatory authorities and by our internal team, per standard procedure. Where appropriate, we implement operational changes," CEO Eric Amoh told the Post.

The report recommended that PIW increase staffing, update practices, reduce reliance on restraint and seclusion and hire an independent consultant specializing in trauma-informed care and incident prevention. It also suggested that district departments of health and behavioral health increase oversight of the facility, including reports and investigations of incidents.

In a joint statement to the Post, the district's departments of health and behavioral health said all complaints are investigated "thoroughly and promptly" and that "Washingtonians deserve a system that supports healthier and stronger communities through the provision of high-quality and appropriate care for those suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders, and the district is committed to that goal."

PIW is one of 400 healthcare facilities owned by Universal Health Services.

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