PATRICK – MURRAY ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES CLOSURE OF STATE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY IN TAUNTON
Department of Mental Health (DMH) hospital to close by the end of the year; inpatient capacity statewide will remain unchanged
The Patrick-Murray Administration today announced that Taunton State Hospital, a state mental health facility, will officially close on December 31. The opening of a state-of-the-art facility, the Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital, is scheduled for this summer. In developing the plan for the new facility in Worcester, the Department of Mental Health (DMH), which operates Taunton State Hospital, realigned the distribution of its continuing care inpatient beds and identified an operating budget to make the new facility possible.
“We understand that this announcement will impact the community of Taunton,” said Governor Patrick. “By closing the Taunton facility, we are maintaining this administration’s commitment to Community First, while preserving all of the facility’s employment opportunities. We look forward to working collaboratively with the city during the implementation of this transfer and closure plan.”
As part of the closure of Taunton State Hospital, 124 of Taunton State’s inpatient beds will be consolidated into the new Worcester facility. An additional 45 beds will be transferred to Tewksbury Hospital. As a result of this realignment, the total number of inpatient beds will be maintained at 626, DMH’s current capacity. There are currently 410 employees at Taunton State Hospital and 426 employees at Worcester State Hospital (the existing facility is slated to close in July), all of whom will have job opportunities at the new Worcester facility.
The closure of Taunton State will not result in a reduction in workforce On the Taunton State Hospital campus DMH operates several residences for DMH consumers. This administration has made a commitment to keep these programs and the jobs associated with them in the Taunton area.
“We remain deeply committed to Community First,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, “For that reason, this closure promotes our shift away from antiquated institutional facilities across healthcare settings toward an environment that emphasizes community supports for patients instead.”
During the past year, DMH hosted a series of community forums to discuss the Department’s Community First policy. At these conversations, the configuration of DMH inpatient capacity was discussed and all stakeholder feedback was considered as part of the decision to close Taunton State Hospital. The Department recognizes the potential impact that this closure may have on patients and their families, and we will work closely with them throughout the closure process to ensure a smooth transition.
Similarly, in 2009, Secretary Bigby appointed an independent 15-member Inpatient Study Commission to evaluate the DMH inpatient system relative to the closure of Westborough State Hospital; determine an appropriate inpatient capacity for DMH facilities; and recommend a plan to the Administration for consideration. Following a series of public hearings across the state, review of numerous documents, data and testimony, the Commission submitted its recommendations on June 30, 2009, which were guided by the main tenets that individuals should live and be served in the least restrictive community settings whenever possible and that the community system must be strengthened to support that.
“We all know that for many, mental illness is a chronic and lifelong disorder,” said DMH Commissioner Barbara Leadholm. “The Department must assure the availability of a spectrum of services and supports as individuals with mental illness experience varying levels of need throughout recovery. The new facility in Worcester will fuel our ability to serve those needs.”;
Patient transitions from Taunton State Hospital will occur in phases throughout the closure process. Patients will have choices, including transfer and discharge where appropriate, and family members will be involved as requested by patients. A clinician will work very closely with the patients throughout the decision making process. All patients will be transitioned from Taunton by the closing date of December 31.
DMH will work closely with each Taunton State patient, their treatment teams and their families to accomplish one of the following:
· Discharge each patient to a community placement;
· Transfer to the new Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital; or
· Transfer to Tewksbury State Hospital.
In 2010, the Department of Mental Health worked closely with stakeholders to expedite the closure of the former Westborough State Hospital.
