The situation with Kansas mental health care providers has continued to grow more problematic. Over the last four years, I've written about continued cuts, Staffing Shortfalls, as well as concerns by those who treat the mentally disabled. Today, the Topeka Capital Journal looked behind the scenes of the situation on the ground in our health hospitals.
http://cjonline.com/...
According to KDADS, Osawatomie State Hospital is supposed to have 501 full-time positions. Currently, 189 of those positions are vacant. The numbers represent a nearly 40 percent staff vacancy rate. KDADS said aggressive steps have been taken to reduce the number of patients at the facility, and that while there are vacancies, patients are receiving appropriate care.
Jonathan Shorman of the Topeka Capital Journal nails together the level of both panic and chaos at state facilities that continue to lack the kind of support they require.
The atmosphere was, at times, hectic.
Sometimes the hospital would receive patients but not always immediately be able to provide the help they need, Boyd indicated. On one occasion, a 500-pound woman came to the hospital, severely mentally ill. The hospital didn’t have a lift for her, he said.
“We’ve got a 500-pound lady crawling around on the floor, and this is not right,” Boyd said.
Short staffs can leave both staff and patients vulnerable.
“I’ve seen women be snatched down by their hair, fingers twisted in their hair,” Boyd said.
The patients, some of whom are violent offenders, are aware when a full crew isn’t present, he said.
“What you hear, the patients hear. So the patients know when they’re short of staff. They even collaborate together where they’re going to jump on a certain staff,” Boyd said.
While this situations create real risks for staff members, the staff hasn't received a raise in nearly 12 years, reports Shorman - a sure way to deter new applicants.
These problems for staff create problems for those who need serious mental health help.
Las year, a man in Dodge City, KS - who had been referred for a mental health evaluation - sat in a jail cell awaiting a bed to open up at Larned Hospital. He killed himself on New Years day, after waiting two months for that bed.
This was not surprising, as the budget afforded to Ford County for Mental Health care of inmates: ZERO.
http://ksn.com/...
After $15 million was cut from mental health funding, some money was meant to be redirected to departments in need. The Kansas Department of Corrections was approved for $3 million in 2013.
“We have a range of mental health issues represented by the inmates in our system. The Kansas Department of Corrections has become the largest mental health provider in the state,” said Spokesperson for DOC Jeremy Barclay.
The county level however, has seen zero dollars, and with cuts there are fewer hospital beds available as well.
“I don’t know of any funding dollars coming in from the state or federal level for mental health to any county jail,” said Chris Weis, Captain of the Ford County Jail Division.
The Kansas Legislature, who has been unable to reach any agreement on a budget this year is currently said to be evaluating across the board cuts along with minor tax increases.
For those in the mental health system, cutting below understaffed is a scary outlook.
http://cjonline.com/...
Turning off your cellphone, even if it is to go to sleep, is no guarantee a worker won’t be reached. Proctor said supervisors have been sent to knock on the doors of workers to wake them if they can’t be reached by phone.
The worst kind of overtime, Boyd said, is so-called back-to-back doubles.
In a back-to-back double, an employee works two regular shifts for a total of 16 hours on the clock. That’s followed by eight hours off followed by another 16 hours working.
Safety of residence and the communities be darned, it appears - and staffing for those who need care most simply isn't a priority.