Two new psychiatric hospitals sought in state

Oct. 09--OLYMPIA -- A California mental health care provider wants to build psychiatric hospitals in Clark and Pierce counties.

Signature Healthcare Services LLC filed letters of intent with the state Department of Health on Friday and Monday outlining proposals for the two hospitals. The Pierce County hospital would provide up to 194 psychiatric beds. Up to 100 beds are proposed for Clark County.

Signature Healthcare operates 13 psychiatric hospitals in the United States, but none in the Northwest. Executive Vice President Blair Stam said the company is responding to unmet demand for mental health services in Washington.

"There's a significant need, and the state recognizes that need," Stam said Wednesday.

The need became more acute following an August state Supreme Court ruling that barred the practice of boarding involuntary psychiatric patients in hospitals. The ruling takes effect at the end of the year, and the state is scrambling to add inpatient psychiatric care.

Stam said his company identified Clark and Pierce as viable locations based on population and demand for services.

Signature Healthcare will file formal applications for certificates of need for the hospitals in the next few days. The company plans to move forward with development immediately after certificates of need are approved, a process that usually takes several months.

Stam said development sites in the two counties have been identified but declined to give specifics. The two hospitals could be built simultaneously, he said. The letters of intent list construction costs for the proposed Pierce County hospital at up to $49 million and the Clark County hospital at up to $35 million.

Stam said the hospitals would provide adult and adolescent services, and some outpatient care. They would accept public and private health plans.

Signature Healthcare has locations in Arizona, California, Illinois, Nevada and Texas.

Representatives from the state Department of Social and Health Services were not immediately available to comment on the Signature proposals Wednesday. The Department of Health recently approved smaller psychiatric facilities in Snohomish County.

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