New mental health hospital proposed for NE Lacey gets city hearings examiner’s OK
A new mental health hospital proposed for northeast Lacey is now headed before the City Council after the city’s hearings examiner recommended approval of the project Tuesday.
Hearings examiner Andrew Reeves surprised everyone when he announced his decision at the end of the hearing, rather than waiting 10 business days to do so.
“I don’t always get to tell you what I plan on doing at the end of these hearings, but based on what I heard today, and the thorough review that occurred, I’m recommending approval of this important facility,” he said.
Reeves said he would still issue a written ruling in 10 business days.
Providence St. Peter Hospital and Fairfax Behavioral Health — jointly known as Olympia Behavioral Health LLC — are proposing a 85-bed mental health hospital. Fairfax operates similar locations in Everett, Kirkland and Monroe.
The nearly 80,000-square-foot project proposed for 3000 Marvin Road Northeast came before the hearings examiner because the project needs a conditional use permit and wetland development permit.
Darin Goss, chief executive of Providence Health & Services Southwest Washington, which operates St. Peter Hospital, and Ron Escarda, chief executive of Fairfax Behavioral Health, spoke at the hearing.
“We believe there is an unmet need for behavioral health resources,” Goss said, adding that although Providence offers a range of mental health services, the emergency room is frequently not the best setting for these patients.
Prior to the pandemic, the hospital averaged 67 involuntary mental health patients per month, he said.
In October, Goss told The Olympian: “We have a dedicated unit for behavioral health patients (at Providence) and it remains full all the time, and when it’s full, those patients are then moved upstairs in the acute care setting when they really need a different type of service and support structure. That’s also taking a bed away from someone needing surgery or in our emergency room. A behavioral health hospital provides a very different resource and support structure than in-patient care.”
Escarda said the hospital will serve voluntary and involuntary patients, including children, adolescents and adults, offering treatment for chemical dependency and addiction, bipolar disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health diagnoses. The hospital is expected to employ more than 200 people and operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, he said.
Fifty to 75 jobs are expected to be created during construction.
The hospital will not be a destination for felons, Escarda said. Those cases still will fall under the auspices of Western State Hospital in Lakewood and Eastern State Hospital near Spokane.
“We have no intention of doing forensic work,” he said.
Patients will not be discharged to the streets, but with an after-care plan, Escarda said. And those patients who are indigent or need charity care will be discharged to the appropriate facilities and support services, he said.
Providence spokeswoman Angela Maki said she expects Lacey City Council to consider the proposal in mid-June.
Lacey already is home to one mental health hospital, South Sound Behavioral Health in Lacey’s Midtown.
This story was originally published May 19, 2021 at 5:45 AM.
