« More Americans hospitalized for eating disorders, data indicate | Main | Boys who suffer mental-health problems may be at increased risk for suicide as teens or young adults, researchers say »
April 16, 2009
Survey indicates occupancy rates remain high in psychiatric treatment facilities
Medscape (4/2, Anderson) reported that, according to a 2008 survey conducted by the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems (NAPHS), "admissions for hospital psychiatric and substance-abuse health services rose 3.5 percent from 2006 to 2007," and "occupancy rates remain high in psychiatric treatment facilities."
NAPHS CEO and President Mark Covall cited "a growing demand for in-patient psychiatric hospital services." He stated, "We tend not to have enough in-patient capacity in many communities, demand in many cases being stronger than the actual supply." Covall added, "We're seeing that there are more patients needing in-patient care from year to year."
Of the "344 members issued a mail-in survey, 205 responded," Covall said, "representing close to a 60 percent response rate." Survey "respondents included psychiatric hospitals, general hospital behavioral-health service units, and freestanding residential treatment centers," with the majority of respondents operating "programs with an average [of] about 86 beds."
Posted by admin at April 16, 2009 03:26 PM