The inpatient psychiatric unit at University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle could undergo significant changes due to the cost of meeting new federal requirements, according to hospital officials.
Seattle-based UW Medicine said in a statement to Becker's Hospital Review it is "exploring a number of options at this time" regarding the unit, as CMS has new requirements about ligature risk in such units "that will be costly to implement."
"UW Medicine is committed to providing quality, compassionate and safe care to our psychiatry and behavioral health patients," the statement reads. "No decisions have been made."
UW Medicine did not provide details about the options being considered. However, KUOW reports hospital officials are considering a full or partial closure of the unit.
UW Medicine's consideration comes as the state struggles with mental health access. Washington ranked No. 48 overall in a 2015 report by Mental Health America, indicating it has higher prevalence of mental illness and lower rates of mental health access compared to most other states. The 10-bed psychiatric unit at UW Medical Center typically serves nine voluntary patients per day, and admits on average 430 patients annually, according to hospital officials. A total of 26 employees, including an attending physician, staff the unit.
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