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DSHS says new state hospital on schedule and on budget; leaders outline safety, training and Eastern State response
Summary
DSHS officials said the new Western State Hospital project is on scope, schedule and budget with design features intended to reduce violence; agency leaders described staff-training, behavior teams and planned security upgrades after an incident at Eastern State Hospital.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Sean Murphy said the new Western State Hospital project is “on scope, on schedule, on budget,” and described design elements intended to improve safety, including single patient rooms, therapeutic courtyards and secured walkways. Murphy said project partners include Clark Construction and HOK and characterized the undertaking as the largest capital project for behavioral health in state history.
A reporter cited a rough $947,000,000 cost estimate during questions; Murphy confirmed the project remains on budget and credited the contractor and design team for delivering the scope and schedule. Murphy described design features intended to reduce incidents by allowing therapeutic outdoor access and single rooms that eliminate many shared-room confrontations.
Facility leaders acknowledged assaults against staff remain a serious concern. Mark Thompson (CEO, Gage Center) said a high proportion of current admissions come from the criminal-justice system, which can raise baseline risk: many incoming patients arrive quickly from jails and sometimes without medication. Thompson outlined responses that include a behavior management team, a psychiatric emergency response team and trained security forces.
Charles Sutherland (CEO, Civil Center of Excellence) and Murphy emphasized staff training and engagement as part of prevention efforts. Murphy said analysis shows limit-setting activity, demand and request denials are leading reasons staff get assaulted, and that the new hospital is being designed “to design our way out of violence.” He added, “1 assault is too many assaults for us.”
When asked about Eastern State Hospital, DSHS leaders said they responded to a recent active-shooter incident with immediate operational actions and are compiling a list of security improvements — lighting assessments, radios, newer patrol vehicles, and additional staffing — and are coordinating with funding authorities to implement them.
Officials did not provide a final cost breakdown for the construction contract or a timetable for Eastern State improvements; they said the teams are working with partners to identify needs and funding pathways.
