Investigates complaints concerning any of the facilities and agencies licensed and inspected by the Department of Health:  
- Hospitals 
- Ambulatory surgical facilities 
- Child birth centers 
- Home health agencies 
- Behavioral health agencies 
- Behavioral health treatment facilities
Does not have the authority to invoke or enforce criminal or civil penalties. 
Authority is limited to taking action against a health care facility license. 
Not able to deny, modify or suspend a license which can result in the facility having to close.

Health Facility Complaints offered by Washington State Department of Health's Quality Assurance Division

Investigates complaints any of the facilities and agencies licensed and inspected by the Department of Health.

Programs that establish and enforce health, safety and program standards for health care and mental health facilities, review applications for licenses, issue or deny licenses, inspect facilities for compliance with requirements and revoke licenses or bring disciplinary action for noncompliance. Included are programs that provide licensing for general acute care hospitals, acute psychiatric hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, home health agencies, personal care agencies, hospice facilities, employer/employee clinics, rehabilitation clinics, community clinics, surgical clinics, and chronic dialysis clinics.

Health Facility Licensing

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the quality of care, treatment of patients, unprofessional conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of hospice facilities or programs.

Hospice Complaints

Programs that establish and enforce health, safety and program standards for residential treatment facilities for people with mental health and/or substance abuse issues, review applications for licenses, issue or deny licenses, inspect facilities for compliance with requirements and revoke licenses or bring disciplinary action for noncompliance.

Residential Treatment Facility Licensing

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, incompetence of staff, cleanliness and safety of facilities, treatment of patients, quality of care, excessive fees, unethical, improper or unprofessional conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of inpatient or residential facilities for people who have substantive mental, emotional or social problems.

Mental Health Facility Complaints

Programs, usually offered by licensing authorities, that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, cleanliness and safety of facilities, treatment of residents, quality of care, excessive fees, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of group residences for adults with disabilities, assisted living facilities, and senior residential care homes.

Adult Residential Facility Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve regarding the licensing; incompetence of staff; cleanliness and safety of facilities; treatment of patients; quality of care; excessive fees; charges for services not rendered; unethical, improper or unprofessional conduct of personnel; or other inappropriate business practices of hospitals.

Hospital Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the quality of care, treatment of patients, unprofessional conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of home health care agencies.

Home Health Care Complaints

Programs, usually offered by licensing authorities, that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, cleanliness and safety of facilities, treatment of residents, quality of care, excessive fees, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of children's group homes, foster family agencies or other residential facilities for dependent children.