Rural hospital to add mental health beds as demand increases
WCAX
A hospital in one of Vermont’s rural regions has more patients with mental health issues than they can keep.
The Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury is currently in the process of adding four beds to its emergency room for mental health patients.
At NVRH, CEO Shawn Tester said patients needing mental health help are staying longer, a little more than 27 hours in 2022 compared to nearly 24 hours in 2021.
“What would end up happening is they sit in our emergency department for hours and days on end. I had one person who spent 200 hours in the department just a few short weeks ago,” said Tester.
That’s why they’re looking to expand.