Reno mental facility under observation

RENO -- State regulators have issued a notice of intent to shut down a Reno psychiatric hospital because of safety concerns after a patient admitted for observation overdosed on pills she brought with her.

But they have backed off an order issued on Tuesday that banned new admissions at West Hills Hospital and would have forced relocation of existing patients within 30 days.

Instead, Nevada State Health Division Administrator Richard Whitley said in a statement Wednesday that they reached an agreement with the hospital to appoint an independent observer to monitor the hospital to ensure patient safety while the closure continues.

As part of the agreement, the new admissions ban will be lifted today, and relocation of patients will be postponed, Whitley said. The hospital will pay for the observer.

"Because of this stipulated agreement, a requirement that the hospital relocate the 52 patients -- 20 of whom are adolescents -- within 30 days is no longer in effect," Whitley said.

Regulators said the closure proceedings come after four incidents involving patient care since late December.

Hospital officials said they were working to address the state's concerns.

"Our goal is to be back in full service to the community very soon, providing the quality of care and focus on patient safety that is the constant mission of our 200 staff members," West Hills spokesman John Van Mol told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

West Hills has 95 beds and treats children, adolescents and adults for behavioral health problems.

The state agency in April suspended new admissions at the hospital for three days and imposed a $5,800 fine after an investigation into the attempted suicides of two young girls on Christmas Day and other deficiencies discovered during site surveys early this year.

A report on the Christmas Day incident said staff did not monitor the patients as required.