SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — State Department of Health officials have approved the construction of a 100-bed psychiatric hospital in Spokane.

The Spokesman-Review reports the new hospital is a joint venture between Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital in Spokane and Fairfax Behavioral Health, which operates psychiatric and chemical dependency facilities in western Washington.

The facility is expected to open in 2017 on the Sacred Heart campus and serve patients ages 5 and older.

Health Department Executive Director Bart Eggen says Sacred Heart's established ties with the local mental health community gave their proposal an edge over two others from companies in other states.

State projections show the area will need 72 more psych beds by 2030.

The Department of Health recently approved construction of a 120-bed psych facility in Tacoma and a 72-bed psych facility in Vancouver, Washington. Both will serve adults.

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