The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries’ division of occupational safety and health fined the hospital $14,400 over a series of patient attacks on nurses in the hospital’s psychiatric unit, according to case records cited by KIRO 7.
The state found five violations by St. Joseph Medical Center involving the hospital’s safety committee and its investigation into the incidents.
Cary Evans, vice president of communications and government affairs for Tacoma-based CHI Franciscan, shared the following statement with KIRO 7:
“The safety of our patients and employees is our highest priority every day. The recent report by the Department of Labor identifies only procedural issues for review committees, and we are already in the process of addressing the structure of our safety committee to meet those concerns.”
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