Spokane, Wash.-based Sacred Heart nurses, technicians, service and maintenance workers are planning to rally in protest of the hospital's plans to permanently close the inpatient child psychiatric unit, KXLY.com reported Sept. 4.
Renton, Wash.-based Providence, which owns the hospital, told the news outlet the closure was prompted by a lack of qualified healthcare workers for inpatient settings. Providence told Becker's the unit served 8 patients and the decision to close reflected a "reduced need for inpatient care as we have increased outpatient programs."
"The closure of this unit will have huge consequences for families," Jaclyn Smedley, a Washington State Nurse's Association nurse representative, told KXLY. "This means there are no longer any dedicated acute care hospital inpatient beds specializing in care for adolescents experiencing a mental health crisis. Kids may need to be taken out of their communities and driven to Tacoma or Seattle to receive treatment."
The association claims the closure is not necessary and could be prevented if Providence chose to accept millions in grant money. Providence passed on the grant because it did not meet requirements to provide care for at least the next 10 years, according to the report.
"It is unfortunate that the union is misinforming our community over such an important topic – mental health care for youth," Providence told Becker's. "Families have local options to seek care for a child in a mental health crisis right here in Spokane. Parents/guardians can bring a child experiencing a mental health crisis to the nearest emergency room for stabilization, including Sacred Heart Medical Center. It is not true that parents have to travel to western Washington to access mental health care for their children."