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KDADS Seeks Remedies To Crisis At Osawatomie State Hospital

Phil Cauthon for KHI News Service

The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services is starting an effort to restrict the number of patients admitted to the state mental hospital at Osawatomie. Bryan Thompson has more...

Federal regulators are requiring extensive renovations to make the antiquated Osawatomie State Hospital safer for patients.

KDADS Secretary Kari Bruffett says patients can’t be housed in areas where construction work is being done. That means 60 beds have to be emptied.

So as of now, those who may need to be hospitalized will have to first be screened at their local community mental health center.

If that process indicates in-patient care is needed, but there is no room at the state hospital, Osawatomie and the community mental health center will try to arrange other services to meet the patient’s needs.

The goal is to avoid declaring a moratorium on admissions. A moratorium would mean that people who pose a danger to themselves or others could be put on a waiting list, instead of getting help right away.