Officials say psychiatric hospital on track to satisfy federal regulators

LAKEWOOD, Wash. (AP) -- Officials with an 800-bed psychiatric hospital in Lakewood say they are on track to satisfying federal regulators and avoiding a potential loss of funding.

The News Tribune reports that inspectors from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services were expected to check Western State Hospital to make sure changes have been made to address problems that threaten patient safety.

Federal officials threatened to pull $64 million in federal funding if the hospital did not make changes by Saturday.

On Friday, Western State Hospital CEO Ron Adler sent a letter to the Medicare agency describing the agency's willingness to accept the improvement proposal, which includes training staff in ``de-escalation'' techniques and canceling a planned expansion.

If the follow-up inspection satisfied inspectors, the hospital will have to start working on long-term improvements.