The proposal for a new inpatient mental health hospital in St. Paul drew more than a hundred attendees to a virtual public hearing Thursday, many with concerns over staffing and care, MPR News reports.
Fairview Health Services and Acadia Healthcare want to co-operate the facility on the site of the now-closed Bethesda Hospital near the state Capitol. It would include 144 new acute care beds for adult and geriatric patients seeking mental health and addiction care.
During the hearing, several attendees, including many Fairview staff, questioned whether the companies would be able to care for so many patients.
“How is Acadia/M Health going to find sufficient nurses to take care of another 144 patients?” asked Dawn Remus, a nurse working at the M Health Fairview Riverside campus. Remus, who has bargained on behalf of the Minnesota Nurses Association, also said she was concerned staff would be nonunion.
In a statement, Fairview officials said Acadia is “uniquely positioned to attract new clinical staff and physicians to joint venture hospitals,” due to its national network. Read more.
