June 16, 2007 B4 Saturday The Spokesman-Review NORTHWEST VA acknowledges hospital had suicide risks Report said site unsafe for psychiatric patients SEATTLE Department of Veterans Affairs hospital administrators in Seattle acknowledged Friday that they were slow to remove shower heads, handrails and other fixtures that could pose risks to psychiatric patients following a suicide last fall. But they told Sen. Patty Murray during a tour of the Seattle hospital that the delay came partly because they were trying to balance the suicide risks with concern for patients who need fixtures such as shower or bedside handrails soldiers who have been wounded in Iraq or aging Vietnam veterans, for example. In reviewing a death at the hospital last November, in which a patient was found hanging from a support rail, a staff team early this year recommended removing the bars from rooms in the psych wards. But in May, when inspectors from a nonprofit hospital standards group, the Chicago-based Joint Commission, arrived, the rails were still in place.
Picture frames with sharp metal corners hung on the walls, and fire extinguishers sat behind breakable glass panes. The furniture in the common areas was neither terribly OFFICIAL RECORDS SPOKANE COUNTY BY GENE JOHNSON Associated Press Marriage licenses Daniel P. Ely and Jessica N. Neff, both of Cheney. Patrick N.
Valeri, of Spokane, and Desilee C. Hader, of Graham, Wash. Jason D. Duba, of Veradale, and Mary E. Briehl Wells, of Spokane.
Christopher P. Swanson, of Spokane, and Leah C. Hebden, of Spokane Valley. Steve D. Filipov and Patricia A.
Brown, both of Spokane. Dallas S. Belch and Rachel M. Winfrey, both of Spokane. Jeffrey R.
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Johnston, both of Spokane. Matthew R. Minnihan, of SeaTac, and Nichole S. Heinen, of Spokane Valley. Bryan K.L.
Brash and Karolyn A. Lewis, both of Spokane. Christopher W. Baker and Dawn J. Berger, both of Spokane.
Jules D. Azatassou and Wanda A. Smith, both of Spokane. Kevin T. Smidt, of Coeur d'Alene, and Mary C.
Johnston, of Hayden, Idaho. IN THE COURTS SUPERIOR COURTS New suits John Key v. Leanna Caldwell, money claimed owed. Christopher Paiz v. Kathy Thornton et restitution of premises.
Efrain Ramirez Jeremy S. Tindal et restitution of premises. Michael Savage Daniel Hubbard et restitution of premises. Hawkins Edwards Mathew A. Bishop et restitution of premises.
Everett E. Dillard et al. v. Christopher N. Dillard, quiet title.
Jack Montera v. Dan Kunkel, money claimed owed. Prodigy Home Sales and Property Management v. Brandy Hollis, restitution of premises. American General Finance Inc.
v. Donald R. Hamilton, money claimed owed. Fireside Homes Inc. v.
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Vito Enterprises v. James Holmes, restitution of premises. Gates Realty Inc. v. Benjamin Aleto et restitution of premises.
Rachelle M. Reiter v. Michelle Porter et collision. Marriage dissolution petitions Parsley, Tammy and Darrell Maurer, Rachel L. and Joshua P.
Dillon, Cynthia A. and Brent S. Birnel, Sarah Paige, and Hall, Teddy L. Lewis, Kathryn M. and Monty F.
Sr. Stillwell, John M. and Jennie A. Cai, Brian, and Yu, Yushu Mitchell, Robert W. and Colleen L.
Nierstheimer, Richard O. and Kelli A. Franks, Curtis and Jennifer Evans, Damian J. and Rachel J. Romo, Wendy L.S.
and Dennis R. Downey, Jennifer and David J. Mowery, Paula K. and Terry C. Jones, Lawrance S.
and Dorena D. Finesilver, Roseanne D. and Steven L. Criminal sentencings Judge Kathleen M. O'Connor Kent S.
Lewis, 43; nine days in jail with credit given for nine days served, after Aubuchon, Steven M. and Shannon C. Marriage dissolutions granted Koontz, Russell J. Olena Associated Press Dr. Robert Barnes, associate director of mental health services of the VA-Puget Sound, left, explains to Sen.
Patty Murray, some of the commission's concerns with the "restraint and seclusion" Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Friday. heavy nor bolted down in other words, throwable. The commission inspectors cited problems that included nurses failing to wash their hands, poor treatment records, and outdated medication, but the preliminary decision to deny accreditation to the VA's hospitals in Seattle and pleading guilty to second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Judge Maryann C. Moreno Johnathan D.
Bender, 30; 10 months in jail with credit given for 52 days served, after pleading guilty to money laundering. Judge Neal Q. Rielly Krystal K. Beaman, 34; six days in jail with credit given for six days served, 12 months probation, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess a controlled substance. Judge Ellen Kalama Clark Angelique D.
Hamilton, 25; 12 months in jail with credit given for 133 days served, after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance and first-degree theft. Timothy L. Jacobs, 18; $90 restitution, four months in jail with credit given for 79 days served, after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary. Lavonda M. Rios, 21; 90 days in jail with credit given for 42 days served, 12 months probation, after pleading guilty to three counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a stolen firearm, bail jumping, and unlawful use of a building for drugs.
Demian M. Carrillo, 39; 33 days in jail with credit given for 33 days served, 12 months probation, after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled substance. Judge Sam F. Cozza Neal T. Johnson, 41; nine months in jail, 12 months probation, after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled substance and.
second-degree possession of stolen property, Sandi A. Lunceford, 33; $200 fine, six months in jail with credit given for 117 days served, 12 months probation, after being found guilty of two counts of possession of a controlled substance. FEDERAL COURT Bankruptcy petitions Jesse and Tyna Pimentel, Pasco; debts of $50,768. Brande Garabedian, 4115 E. 31st; debts of $30,929.
David Hudson, Kettle Falls and Sue Ann Hudson, Issaquah; debts of $111,071. Aaron Brumbaugh, Pasco; debts of $40,009. David Bridgett, Dayton; debts of $164,638. Sharon Caudelle, 2708 E. 27th; debts of $38,500.
New suits Alta Paulsson v. the Town of Coulee City et violation of civil rights. Bernice M. Fallis v. McDonald's No.
16936, negligence. GE Commercial Distribution Finance Corporation v. D.K. Sanderlin breach of contract. Michael A.
Charney v. Leola B. Keicer, violation of civil rights. Antwone D. Goolsbysr v.
Rozzell et violation of civil rights. Joey Uruo v. Department of Corrections et violation of civil rights. Dennis Jones v. Spokane County Police Department et violation of civil rights.
Eric Wolfe v. Portfolio Recovery Associates LLC, violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Robert M. Waggy v. Paul Nicholi, medical malpractice.
Cheryl Marchand v. Grant County, violation of civil rights. United Food arid Commercial Workers Union, Local 1439 v. Fred Meyer, breach of collective bargaining agreement. Amel Dalluge v.
Roweder violation of civil rights. Donald N. Ford v. Geiger Corrections Facility, Mia violation of civil rights. Dale E.
Harper v. Maggie Miller-Stout et violation of civil rights. United States of America v. Goldsmith Farms Inc. et default of loan by promissory note.
Cynthia A. Robinson v. Oscar Gonzeles, violation of civil rights. Cynthia A. Robinson v.
Yakima County Sheriff's Office, violation of civil rights. Richard S. Foreman v. Hanford Employee Welfare Trust, violation of the Employee Income Security Act. Cynthia A.
Robinson v. William Shuller Ill, Illoonlight, One Dag Onlg Saturday, June 16, 2007! Save more by the hour, on selected Spring and Summer clothing! The longer you shop the more you save. FROM SAVE FROM SAVE FROM SAVE Take advantage of our everyday savings on toys, furniture and equipment. Once upon a child "Kids' Stuff With Previous 14401 E. Sprague Spokane Valley WA 99216 509-927-3001 www.ouac.com Valid at participating store(s) only.
Not valid with any other specials, coupons or on previously purchased items. All sales final. Northwest Health Network, and Stan Johnson, who moved to Seattle two weeks ago to become the hospital's director, acknowledged that administrators dropped the ball in responding to the staff's recommendations following the suicide. They said the VA is responding to all of the Joint Commission's findings. "If the staff here learned anything, and us as directors have learned anything, it's you have to respond quickly to the suggestions and recommendations made by your staff," Johnson said.
"When they've identified an issue, we have to resolve it as soon as possible." The VA has removed rails from the beds and ordered 70 new beds and extraheavy furniture for the psych wards at the Puget Sound hospitals. It has also removed pictures from the walls, except in public areas, and is taking other steps such as covering pipes under bathroom sinks with metal cylinders to prevent patients from hanging themselves on them. The effort is costing $450,000, and administrators said they expected their experience to prompt other VA hospitals around the country to reevaluate their psychiatric facilities. Health care for veterans has been a top concern in recent months following accounts of shoddy treatment at the Defense Department's Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The Joint Commission, which sends inspectors for unannounced visits every three years, had never before complained credit given for 25 days served, making a false statement.
Judge Patti Walker Nicole S. Lane, 36; $823 fine, one day in jail, 24 months probation, driving while intoxicated. Commissioner Charles Rohr Curtis L. Odom, 45; $1,078 fine, 90 days in jail with credit given for 26 days served, physical control. Commissioner Virginia Rockwood Michael C.
McGuire, 51; $325 fine, operating a motor vehicle without liability insurance; $70 fine, move unsafe vehicle or vehicle with deficient equipment; $101 fine, third-degree driving with license suspended. Patricia L. McMillan, 45; $275 fine, operating a motor vehicle without liability insurance; $101 fine, third-degree driving with license suspended. Allen K. Murch, 36; $538 fine, third-degree driving with license suspended amended to no valid operator's license; $325 fine, operating a motor vehicle without liability insurance; $70 fine, speeding.
David A. Murray, 21; $823 fine, 26 days in jail with credit given for 26 days served, 24 months probation, driving while intoxicated. Blayne E. Orton, 22; $325 fine, operating a motor vehicle without liability insurance; $101 fine, third-degree driving with license suspended amended to no operator's license on person. Kenneth Overman, 21; $538 fine, third-degree driving with license suspended amended to second-degree no valid operator's license; $70 fine, speeding.
about the support rails, picture frames or other items it cited in a preliminary report last month, administrators said. "This ward is unchanged since they were here three years ago," Robert Barnes, associate director for mental health services at VA-Puget Sound, told the senator. The report said VA officials knew in February that suicidal patients could use several room fixtures to hang themselves, but "rejected that these were viable risks and elected not to correct." The VA initially refused to release the document, but Murray, a senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, released it Friday after obtaining a copy. It is particularly disconcerting given reports that as many as 40 percent of troops returning from Iraq have mental health issues, Murray said. The troops are "coming home with much higher stress levels than we have seen," she said.
"We know we need to get our VA facilities to a different place than they were even a decade ago." She spent nearly two hours touring the hospital's two psychiatric wards. She repeatedly asked VA officials to let her know if they need more money. On Thursday, officials said the Army is planning to hire at least 25 percent more psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers to help a growing number of soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health needs. room in the psychiatric ward at the Tacoma was based on conditions in the psych wards. "What happened in those four months?" Murray, D- asked her tour guides.
"Can I be absolutely blunt? I heard it wasn't a resources issue. It was a lack of leadership issue." Dennis Lewis, director of the VA violation of civil rights. Gypsy D. Gonzalez et al. v.
Merck and Company Inc. et product liability. Cynthia A. Robinson v. Yakima County Jail Correctional Officers, violation of civil rights.
Concepcion Campos et al. v. Ford Motor Company et violation of Washington Product Liability Act. Rodney A. Rader v.
BNSF Railway Company, negligence. Charles W. Weber v. Gil Alden et violation of civil rights. Geneva Ellis-Balone v.
Samuel A. Bodman et violation of civil rights. Only fines of $125 or more included unless jail sentence is given. Judge Annette S. Plese Michael A.
Hegel, 26; 10 days in jail with credit given for seven days served, third-degree driving with license suspended. Maxie L. Hill, 23; $325 fine, operating a motor vehicle without liability insurance; $100 fine, failure to vehicle registration. Samantha M. Huston, 28; $350 fine, operating a motor vehicle without liability insurance; $101 fine, third-degree driving with license suspended amended to no operator's license on person; $80 fine, improper lane usage.
Joseph L. Jones, 38; 20 days in jail with credit given for 15 days served, theft. Jack P. Knutson, 21; $275 fine, operating a motor vehicle without liability insurance; $112 fine, improper lane usage. Kathryn M.
Kuk, 47; 25 days in jail with Widow sues over husband's cremation BY TARYN BRODWATER alleges the funeral home filled out Staff writer paperwork indicating her husband had no A Coeur d'Alene woman is su- devices, implants or prosthetics. ing English Funeral Chapel for al- She says her husband was an legedly cremating her husband amputee and had an artificial leg without permission and for the that was worth more than $7,000. loss of his prosthetic leg. In the suit, she claims the funeral DeeDee Strimas also says the home either disposed of the prosCoeur d'Alene funeral home gave thetic or cremated it with his boher the cremated remains of dy. The funeral home violated the someone other than her husband, policies and procedures that they although the lawsuit doesn't had gone over with her, accordspecify why she believes that.
ing to the suit. Bruce English, owner of the fu- "Plaintiff was assured that her neral chapel, declined to com- husband's body had been cared ment Friday, saying his insurer for, cleaned and prepared for had advised against it. cremation in reverent and reJohn Strimas died July 24, spectful manner," the suit says. 2005, at 62. If the funeral home had DeeDee Strimas claims in the cleaned and prepared the body, suit that a funeral home employee DeeDee Strimas contends, they came to her with a cremation would have noticed her husband authorization form on July 27 had an artificial leg.
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