Dozens of staff have filed complaints at the Oregon State Hospital, expressing deep frustrations and calling for a change to the culture, Oregonlive reported Dec. 4.
Current and former employees as well as patients of the public psychiatric hospital detailed harassment and discrimination they allegedly faced to Oregonlive, including a gay staff member having a locker painted pink, physical assault and threats of retaliation for speaking up about harassment.
The disability advocacy group Disability Rights Oregon has been making weekly unannounced visits to the psychiatric hospital. The group's managing attorney for mental health rights, K.C. Lewis described a "culture of constant crisis."
Both staff and the disability rights group are concerned about patient safety amid the frustration and alleged mistreatment of staff.
"It's really raising very serious concerns," Mr. Lewis said. "People who have been there a long time say it's teetering on the brink of collapse."
Hospital Superintendent Dolly Matteucci told Oregonlive that administrators take complaints seriously.
"In order for [staff] to be healthiest, do their best work and provide the best patient care and services, they need to be safe," Ms. Matteucci said. "And it needs to be physical and emotional safety."