SPOKANE, Wash. – Providence has responded to the Washington State Nurses Association’s statement on claiming they are ‘misinforming the community.’
Providence released the statement stating their disappointment with the nurses union spreading “false” information and highlighted the fact that children can still receive mental health care in Spokane.
“The union’s claim stating that young patients will need to travel outside of Spokane for mental health care is false. High-level inpatient care for young people in crisis continues to be available right here in Spokane,” Providence stated.
The facility will be closing this week after over 40 years of service for children ages 12-17.
Providence claims this closure comes after they were unable to staff the unit with mental health professionals noting this is an issue nationwide.
Providence also argued that patients and families in eastern Washington still have options that would not require them to travel far.
The Inland Northwest Behavioral Health hospitals have a 25-bed children’s unit that cares for kids in an inpatient setting.
The facility offers 24-hour walk-in care for children ages 12–17 that are experiencing depression, anxiety, bi-polar symptoms and suicidal ideation.
Providence plans to work with the INBH and stated that any child experiencing a mental health crisis can be taken to the nearest emergency room including Sacred Heart.
“It is important for our community to know that local care is available. It is not true that parents have to travel to western Washington to access mental health care for their children,” Providence said.
Providence also stated that they have spent extensive resources into their outpatient mental health programs noting that children can receive treatment in their homes 2-5 days a week.
The statement comes after the .
Providence responded to the event saying, “inaccurate information regarding mental health care access in our community is being circulated.”
The outpatient facility will officially close its doors Sept. 7.
For more information on the outpatient services that Providence provides click here.
