Facilities and Services Licensing Complaint Investigations Home Page

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The department investigates complaints about health care facilities and agencies we regulate. Anyone can submit a Complaint Form / Formulario de Denuncia (in Espanol) about the facility types listed below.

We will interview the person who files a complaint to be certain we have enough information. You may remain anonymous from the facility named in the complaint.

If your complaint is about a person who provides medical care or services, contact Health Professions Quality Assurance or at 360.236.4700.

If you are unsure whether the complaint is against the facility or a person, please submit the complaint to us anyway, and we'll route it to the appropriate office for review.

Acute Care Hospital
Adult Residential Rehabilitation Center
Alcoholism Hospital
Alcohol Treatment Facility
Ambulatory Surgery Center
Bed & Breakfast Lodging
Child Birth Center
Child Crisis Residential Program
Community Colleges (Food Service Only)
Department of Corrections Facility
Department of Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility
Ferry System (Food Service Only)
Hotel

Home Care Agency
Home Health Care Agency
Hospice Agency
Hospice Care Center
Juvenile Detention Center
Kidney Dialysis
Laboratory (Medical Test Site)
Motel
Psychiatric Hospital including Western & Eastern State Hospitals
Psychiatrically Impaired Children and Youth Center
Schools for the Deaf and Blind
Soldier's Home/Police Academy/Veteran's Home

How to Contact Us

Hotline: 1-800-633-6828, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Leave your name and the phone number with area code where you can be reached during business office hours. Also, please leave a brief summary of your complaint. A nurse is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm to return your call.

Contact by Mail

You may also file a complaint by printing and completing the Complaint Form. You may include any additional supporting information and mail to:

Department of Health
PO Box 47865
Olympia WA 98504-7865

Contact by Email

You may also contact our office directly via e-mail by submitting your name and your contact information on the Complaint Contact Form. Due to confidentiality concerns, we do not accept details of complaints by e-mail.

We will contact you to further discuss the details of your complaint or concern.

How We Investigate Complaints

Once the initial complaint is processed, it is referred to the specific office responsible for inspecting that type of facility or service. We send an acknowledgment letter to the person who filed the complaint. This letter contains a case number that should be used when communicating with our office about the complaint.

Every complaint is evaluated and prioritized by its potential impact on consumers, residents, or patient health and safety. Based on the priority of the complaint, we conduct an investigation that may include an on-site unscheduled visit, interviews, and records review.

We send a letter to the person who filed the complaint to notify them when the investigation is complete. Enclosed with the letter is a copy of the investigation findings. State regulations do not allow the release of this information until the investigation is complete.

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Washington State Department of Health
Facility Services Licensing
P.O. Box 47852
Olympia, WA 98504-7852
Phone: (360) 236-2905
Fax: (360) 236-2901

Last Update : 12/21/2007 05:09 PM
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