Gov. Tina Kotek has named a new acting superintendent for Oregon State Hospital, following a recent patient death at the facility and the resignation of the interim superintendent and chief medical officer, according to a news release sent to local media outlets April 11.
Dave Baden has been named acting superintendent of the hospital, replacing Sara Walker, MD. The installation of new leadership comes “in the interest of patient safety,” Ms. Kotek said in the news release.
The governor’s office has also ordered the hospital to develop a 30-day plan to address issues related to patient care and safety. This comes after an unexpected death of a patient in seclusion at the facility on March 18. The incident led to The Joint Commission issuing the hospital a preliminary denial of accreditation and an immediate jeopardy warning from CMS.
Investigators from the agencies found issues with how often staff checked on patients in seclusion, as well as problems with the safety of the seclusion space itself. In the weeks since, Oregon State Hospital has implemented corrective actions, including new emergency response protocols and targeted staff training. A follow-up visit from The Joint Commission is scheduled for April 17 to assess whether the hospital’s efforts are sufficient to restore full accreditation.
