Michigan has closed 77 patient beds at state-run psychiatric facilities across the state since April, despite significant investment growth in inpatient psychiatric hospitals over recent years, Bridge Michigan reported Oct. 5.
The main reason for the loss in patient beds is lack of adequate staffing in hospitals. The lack of staffing is caused by hospitals failing to attract applicants, according to the publication.
"I've got the budget to hire staff," George Mellos, MD, deputy director at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for the state hospitals that offer behavioral health services, told Bridge Michigan. "I don't ever remember a time having to close beds because no one was applying for jobs."
The largest cut in beds occurred at a facility in Kalamazoo, which lost 50 inpatient beds.