Western State Hospital leaders describe new forensic hospital progress and commit to improved community notifications
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Summary
Western State Hospital leaders updated the Lakewood City Council on the new forensic hospital’s construction progress, bed allocations and safety measures, and described the hospital's current notification practices and an internal root-cause review after a recent unauthorized leave.
Hospital leaders from Western State described construction progress on the new Gage Center forensic hospital and fielded council questions about patient escapes and community notification processes.
Mark Thompson, chief executive officer of the Gage Center of Forensic Excellence at Western State Hospital, said the new facility will total roughly 350 patient beds (the project replaces — not simply adds to — current capacity) and includes a separate 55,000-square-foot administration building. Architecturally, presenters emphasized design choices intended to maintain safety while avoiding a prison-like appearance: enclosed courtyards without visible tall fencing, individual patient bathrooms, staff amenities and a visitor entrance designed to be welcoming to families.
Dave Chipchase, quality manager on the project, said the construction team has completed substantial structural work and that interior fit-out will be the longest remaining phase. Thompson and Chipchase said the new building aims for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services certification to enable federal reimbursement and education partnerships.
Council members pressed hospital leadership about a recent unauthorized leave by a patient who originated in Clark County. Thompson said Lakewood Police Department received initial notification within approximately five minutes after staff determined an individual was missing and described the hospital’s incident-command and notification checklists (law enforcement, prosecutors, defense counsel). He acknowledged there is not a formalized, city-targeted broadcast notification system and that, in practice, broader public notice often relies on police communications and media reporting. Thompson said an interdisciplinary root-cause analysis is underway and that the hospital will work with Lakewood on communications protocols to improve timeliness.
Council members asked about the mix of civil and forensic beds and whether the new facility changes that balance. Thompson reiterated that the new 350-bed hospital reflects a reconfiguration of campus beds (current campus counts cited: approximately 458 forensic and 287 civil beds) and that civil patients will continue to be served on campus while design and future capital planning examine options to improve conditions for civil wards.
Thompson said the hospital values partnership with Lakewood public safety and pledged to continue conversations on notification improvements and community collaboration.
