Staff members who were exposed to COVID-19, the infection caused by the novel coronavirus, at Washington’s largest psychiatric facility, Western State Hospital, were gathered into a small building for testing, where a few wore masks.
The employees were given coronavirus test kits by people who did not wear gloves. And then they were asked to swirl nasal swabs. The testing method was meant only for those who had symptoms but the staff said none of them had any symptoms.
Many staff members told The Associated Press that the test was unsafe and it likely produced inaccurate results, exposing them to the virus again.
The hospital’s forensic psychologist Dr. Lauren Smith said, “I absolutely feel it was a misuse of the testing materials. In addition to that, the manner in which they did it put us all at risk.”
They said this is another example of the state’s failure to safeguard patients and health workers at Western State Hospital.
The hospital has been under the scanner because of federal investigations, violent attacks by patients, and a failure to meet health and safety requirements. This led the hospital to lose its accreditation and deferral funding. The staff members said poor management during the ongoing crisis could cost lives.
Justin Lee, a spokesperson for the hospital employee union, said, “I’m afraid this could become another tragedy similar to what happened at Life Care Center of Kirkland.”
Nurses have called for top administrators at the Department of Social and Health Services, which runs the hospital, to be removed over poor management of the outbreak.
Cheryl Strange, the secretary of the department, said she is disappointed and she will work to address their concerns.
“There is always much work to do in a hospital this large and we will continue our efforts to restore the faith of the membership,” Strange said.
So far, 29 staff members at the hospital have tested positive for COVID-19, with six confirmed cases and one death.
At Western State Hospital, many patients are mentally ill. Some are a danger to themselves, some have committed a crime and are undergoing treatment to restore their mental competency, while some are quite old with immune-compromised systems because of their medications, which puts them at risk of catching the virus.
Forensic Evaluator Ben LaLiberte said, “If you give patients Purell, they’ll drink it.”
Psychiatric wards are difficult to handle, as they can be chaotic and sometimes violent, which requires staff to physically contact to control patients.
LaLiberte said, “The 6-foot rule isn’t possible. I easily come into close contact with 20 people every day.”
The hospital staff said they did not have symptoms. They also questioned why patients in the ward where they were exposed were not tested.
There have been conflicts in the number of patients who underwent testing in the facility. In mid-April, Kelly Von Holtz, spokesperson of the Department of Social and Health Services said only two had been tested in that month, but the next day, she said 38 had been tested.
The staff members do not believe the official numbers because infections among workers doubled since March. “I have a lot of suspicion about the information we’re getting,” LaLiberte said. “It ends up putting people at risk.”
