Discussion Continues On Future Of State Hospital

(Host) The debate over replacing the Vermont State Hospital has been going on for a decade. But it has gained new urgency in the months since Irene, when the Waterbury facility was flooded and all of the patients had to be moved to other locations.

VPR's Samantha Fields reports on the discussion over what Vermont's mental health care system should look like.

(Fields) Last week, Governor Peter Shumlin unveiled his proposal for replacing the 54-bed psychiatric hospital with a new, significantly smaller facility in central Vermont, and additional beds at the Brattleboro Retreat, Rutland Regional Medical Center, and the Windsor Correctional Facility.

Mental Health Commissioner Patrick Flood says the emphasis of the plan is on increasing community-based mental health services across the state.

(Flood) "We view it as a balanced approach, we view it as spread out across the community, and we view it as giving us more flexibility and also more opportunity to provide options, different options for people to meet them where they are."

(Fields) The issue of how many inpatient beds are needed for people dealing with acute mental health issues is still being hotly debated.  But there does seem to be consensus on the community-based approach in the Governor's plan.

Dr. Jay Batra is the medical director of the Vermont State Hospital. He believes there is a distinct need for a larger, specialized state hospital than what Governor Shumlin is proposing. But he is also in favor of increasing support for community-based care.

(Batra) "The idea of providing people care close to their homes is a laudable one, and I would argue that it has been occurring. In 2010, there were 4,600 inpatient hospitalizations throughout the state of Vermont. More than 4,300 of them, which is 95 percent did occur in community hospitals close to their home. That is a vital service that ought to remain that way.

(Fields) The Governor's plan will have to go through the legislature before any facilities can undergo renovations, and community services can get any increased funding. The legislature reconvenes the first week of January.

For VPR News, I'm Samantha Fields.