Hundreds of employees at Washington's Western State Hospital have suffered concussions, fractures, bruises and cuts during assaults by patients, resulting in millions of dollars in medical costs, according to an article on the Bellingham Herald website.
Federal regulators have threatened to cut millions in funding for the Lakewood facility four times this year over patient safety concerns, and attacks on medical staff have contributed to worker shortages they say is the root cause of the violence.
The state has cited the hospital three times for safety violations since 2013 and ordered $49,550 in fines. The most recent citation in January was for failing to provide staff with dependable safety devices.
The personal alarm pendant system they were using didn't cover some "blind spots" inside buildings, including some kitchens, hallways, courtyards, elevators and stairwells, inspectors said. It also didn't work outside on the hospital grounds.
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