Western State Hospital Replacement: Balancing Care & Safety

0:00It's April 19th. Welcome to Canada News today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story. Construction crews are pushing forward on the $947 million Western State Hospital replacement in Lakewood, the biggest. Project in the city's history and Washington's largest $1 million amount outside of roads. State officials updated the Lakewood City Council on April 13th with fresh renderings and security tweaks after a recent patient escape. This new 350-bed forensic spot is for folks needing mental health treatment tied to court orders, set to open in August 20th. 28. The design flips the script on old-school psych wards, ditching barbed wire for interconnected buildings around flowering courtyards that nod to the Pacific Northwest vibe. Every patient gets a private room with their own bathroom and shower, all in bright open spaces like cafes and gyms. Others picked architects who specialize in facilities that feel healing, not jail-like, to keep patients in a better headspace for recovery.

1:01Tensions spiked after 45-year-old Joshua Dillon Rice bolted from the current hospital on March 31st. Lakewood's mayor called out the slow heads, up to the community, saying it took days for locals to hear about it. Council members grilled officials on the timeline, highlighting how phone calls, not apps or alerts, are still the go-to for notifications. City pros explained earned privileges for some patients, like ground walks, but stress new and close courtyards to block future runs. Within five minutes of spotting-rise missing, they locked down wards, did head counts, and pinged to Lakewood police. No automated public alerts exist yet. Yet word usually spreads via news, and an investigation is digging into the protocol slip-up. As the build rolls on, these updates aim to balance top-notch care with community safety, helping eyes wide open for smoother operations down the line.