Washington stops placement of minors at behavioral health hospital over unsafe environment

Kirkland, Wash.-based Fairfax Behavioral Health Hospital is blocked from admitting new patients younger than 18 until unsafe conditions are addressed, the state health department said April 27.

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The department said its staff went to the hospital on April 21 to investigate allegations of serious and immediate risk to patient safety. It issued a notice of immediate jeopardy based on deficient practices including failure to identify patients at risk for harm, failure to implement a plan to prevent sexual aggression and victimization, and failure to keep a safe patient care environment.

After the hospital submitted a plan to correct the issues, a follow-up visit found ongoing concerns, the department said.

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