Revised Code of Washington - RCW Title 72 State Institutions - Chapter 72.23 Public And Private Facilities For Mentally Ill

72.23.010 Definitions
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Court" means the superior court of the state of ...

72.23.020 State hospitals designated
There are hereby permanently located and established the following state hospitals: Western state hospital at Fort Steilacoom, Pierce county; eastern state hospital at Medical Lake, ...

72.23.025 Eastern and western state hospital boards established -- Primary diagnosis of mental disorder -- Duties -- Institutes for the study and treatment of mental disorders established
(1) It is the intent of the legislature to improve the quality of service at state hospitals, eliminate overcrowding, and more specifically define the role ...

72.23.027 Integrated service delivery -- Incentives to discourage inappropriate placement -- Specialized care programs
The secretary shall develop a system of more integrated service delivery, including incentives to discourage the inappropriate placement of persons with developmental disabilities, head injury, ...

72.23.030 Superintendent -- Powers -- Direction of clinical care, exception
The superintendent of a state hospital subject to rules of the department, shall have control of the internal government and economy of a state hospital ...

72.23.035 Background checks of prospective employees
In consultation with law enforcement personnel, the secretary shall have the power and duty to investigate the conviction record and the protection proceeding record information ...

72.23.040 Seal of hospital
The superintendent shall provide an official seal upon which shall be inscribed the statutory name of the hospital under his charge and the name of ...

72.23.050 Superintendent as witness -- Exemptions from military duty
The superintendent shall not be required to attend any court as a witness in a civil or juvenile court proceedings, but parties desiring his testimony ...

72.23.060 Gifts -- Record -- Use
The superintendent is authorized to accept and receive from any person or organization gifts of money or personal property on behalf of the state hospital ...

72.23.080 Voluntary patients -- Legal competency -- Record
Any person received and detained in a state hospital under chapter 71.34 RCW is deemed a voluntary patient and, except as chapter 9.41 RCW may ...

72.23.100 Voluntary patients -- Policy -- Duration
It shall be the policy of the department to permit liberal use of the foregoing sections for the admission of those cases that can be ...

72.23.110 Voluntary patients -- Limitation as to number
If it becomes necessary because of inadequate facilities or staff, the department may limit applicants for voluntary admission in accordance with such rules and regulations ...

72.23.120 Voluntary patients -- Charges for hospitalization
Payment of hospitalization charges shall not be a necessary requirement for voluntary admission: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, The department may request payment of hospitalization charges, or any ...

72.23.125 Temporary residential observation and evaluation of persons requesting treatment
The department is directed to establish at each state hospital a procedure, including the necessary resources, to provide temporary residential observation and evaluation of persons ...

72.23.130 History of patient
It shall be the duty of the superintendent to ascertain by diligent inquiry and correspondence, the history of each and every patient admitted to his ...

72.23.160 Escape -- Apprehension and return
If a patient shall escape from a state hospital the superintendent shall cause immediate search to be made for him and return him to said ...

72.23.170 Escape of patient -- Penalty for assisting
Any person who procures the escape of any patient of any state hospital for the mentally ill, or institutions for psychopaths to which such patient ...

72.23.180 Discharge, parole, death, escape -- Notice -- Certificate of discharge
Whenever a patient dies, escapes, or is paroled or discharged from a state hospital, the superintendent shall immediately notify the clerk of the court which ...

72.23.190 Death -- Report to coroner
In the event of the sudden or mysterious death of any patient at a state hospital, not on parole or escape therefrom, such fact shall ...

72.23.200 Persons under eighteen -- Confinement in adult wards
No mentally ill person under the age of sixteen years shall be regularly confined in any ward in any state hospital which ward is designed ...

72.23.210 Persons under eighteen -- Special wards and attendants
The department may designate one or more wards at one or more state hospitals as may be deemed necessary for the sole care and treatment ...

72.23.230 Patient's property -- Superintendent as custodian -- Management and accounting
The superintendent of a state hospital shall be the custodian without compensation of such personal property of a patient involuntarily hospitalized therein as may come ...

72.23.240 Patient's property -- Delivery to superintendent as acquittance -- Defense, indemnity
Upon receipt of a written request signed by the superintendent stating that a designated patient of such hospital is involuntarily hospitalized therein, and that no ...

72.23.250 Funds donated to patients
The superintendent shall also have authority to receive funds for the benefit of individual patients and may disburse such funds according to the instructions of ...

72.23.260 Federal patients -- Agreements authorized
The department shall have the power, in the name of the state, to enter into contracts with any duly authorized representative of the United States ...

72.23.280 Nonresidents -- Hospitalization
Nonresidents of this state conveyed or coming herein while mentally ill shall not be hospitalized in a state hospital, but this prohibition shall not prevent ...

72.23.290 Transfer of patients -- Authority of transferee
Whenever it appears to be to the best interests of the patients concerned, the department shall have the authority to transfer such patients among the ...

72.23.300 Bringing narcotics, intoxicating liquors, weapons, etc., into institution or its grounds prohibited -- Penalty
Any person not authorized by law so to do, who brings into any state institution for the care and treatment of mental illness or within ...

72.23.390 Safe patient handling
(1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (a) "Lift team" means hospital employees specially trained to ...

72.23.400 Workplace safety plan
(1) By November 1, 2000, each state hospital shall develop a plan, for implementation by January 1, 2001, to reasonably prevent and protect employees from ...

72.23.410 Violence prevention training
By July 1, 2001, and at least annually thereafter, as set forth in the plan developed under RCW 72.23.400, each state hospital shall provide violence ...

72.23.420 Record of violent acts
Beginning no later than July 1, 2000, each state hospital shall keep a record of any violent act against an employee or a patient occurring ...

72.23.430 Noncompliance -- Citation under chapter 49.17 RCW
Failure of a state hospital to comply with this chapter shall subject the hospital to citation under chapter 49.17 RCW.[2000 c 22 § 6.]Notes: Findings ...

72.23.440 Technical assistance and training
A state hospital needing assistance to comply with RCW 72.23.400 through 72.23.420 may contact the department of labor and industries for assistance. The state departments ...

72.23.451 Annual report to the legislature
By September 1st of each year, the department shall report to the house committee on commerce and labor and the senate committee on commerce and ...

72.23.460 Provisions applicable to hospitals governed by chapter
The provisions of RCW 70.41.410 and 70.41.420 apply to hospitals governed by this chapter.[2008 c 47 § 4.]Notes: Findings -- Intent -- 2008 c 47: ...

72.23.900 Construction -- Purpose -- 1959 c 28
The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed so that persons who are in need of care and treatment for mental illness shall receive ...

72.23.910 Construction -- Effect on laws relating to the criminally insane -- "Insane" as used in other statutes
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as affecting the laws of this state relating to the criminally insane or insane inmates of penal institutions. ...