MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'closures'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:23:05 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2832151&cid=t_168580_88_f&fid=38959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epmonthly.com%2Fwhitecoat%2F2009%2F09%2Feffects-of-saving-money%2F In 2008, St. Johns Hospital and Mary Immaculate Hospital in Queens had a total of 119,883 outpatient department visits. In February 2009, the two hospitals went bankrupt and closed. In June 2009, the New York City Office of Policy Management published a paper showing that once St. Johns and Mary Immaculate Hospitals closed their doors, the patients that previously went to those hospitals didn’t just vanish. Instead, the patients flocked to other nearby hospitals which were already operating at capacity. Guess what happened? Those nearby hospitals – such as Jamaica Hospital in Queens, are now “overwhelmed.” According to the report, Jamaica Hospital’s daily census went up 50% — from 350 visits per day to “well over” 500 visits per day. On May 2... WhiteCoat's Call Room blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2832151 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:07:43 +0100 2832151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473890&cid=t_168580_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fiz7BsoGHRsU%2F In this ultra-modern, health-conscious world, one would not have thought this to happen. But the World Health Organization has just declared a swine flu pandemic has begun. WHO declares Swine Flu Global Pandemic, 11 June 2009. Image: Newscom Although the WHO declared the danger as “moderate severity”, the agency stressed that the threat of the H1N1 virus needs to be taken seriously, as “the virus is now unstoppable.” The A(H1N1) virus is a combination of three viruses – human, swine and avian, and that made it particularly dangerous to humans as there is no immunity, nor vaccine (to date), to this strain. UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES As of June11, there are 28,774 people infected by the A(H1N1), and 144 have died. Most of those infected rapidly recovered, and did not need medical treat... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473890 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:11:05 +0100 2473890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2035589&cid=t_168580_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F12%2F13%2Fmass-closing-4-of-6-state-institutions%2F For years, Massachusetts has attempted to catch up with the rest of the nation in de-institutionalizing some of its most disabled residents. It runs six institutions — full-time, inpatient settings where people spend most of their lives — for people with developmental disabilities and mental retardation. The state has targeted four of these institutions, housing nearly 500 residents, for closure within the next few years, starting with its most notorious one, Fernald. The ARC of Massachusetts hailed the planned closures — “It’s a victory!” said its executive director yesterday. While most residents will, by choice, be moved to community settings — group homes — the state thinks about 160 residents will choose to move instead to one of the ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2035589 Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:16:30 +0100 2035589 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1649304&cid=t_168580_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F343939817%2F When we talk about shrinkage, we usually toss out the number of jobs being cut. But another way to look at consolidation is to track all the plants closing. Since January 2007, a total of 77 industry sites employing more than 14,000 people were either closed or have been put on notice, according to Industrial Info Resources, a research firm. Among the 26 that are still scheduled to be shuttered is an AstraZeneca facility in Ontario; a pair of Biovail plants in Puerto Rico; a Bristol-Myers Squibb facility in Puerto Rico, and a Barr Pharmaceuticals plant in New Jersey. “Some of the plants targeted for closure will undoubtedly be reopened by others. With companies eager to shed the buildings, and often the equipment inside, some good deals come on the market…Others, like Pfizer i... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1649304 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:42:44 +0100 1649304 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1314245&cid=t_168580_140_f&fid=35465&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychlaws.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fbiloxi-blues-setting-bar-low.html The study The Shortage of Public Hospital Beds for Mentally Ill People performed by the Treatment Advocacy Center is complete and the results are dismal. Since 1955, the number of public psychiatric beds across America has dropped from 340 per 100,000 people to 17 per 100,000 people. There is now a shortage of nearly 100,000 public psychiatric beds in the United States.A panel of experts concluded every state should have at least 50 public psychiatric beds per 100,000 people to meet minimum acceptable standards. That assumes that all other mental health services are optimum. The one very small silver lining in this dark gray cloud is that Mississippi, of all states, meets the minimum standard of 50 beds per 100,000. Every other state fell short, and most fell very short. In the last cens... Treatment Advocacy Center blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1314245 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:06:00 +0100 1314245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1307786&cid=t_168580_140_f&fid=35465&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychlaws.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fnew-report-deficit-of-nearly-100000.html The Treatment Advocacy Center released a report today that shows a nationwide shortage of nearly 100,000 public psychiatric hospital beds. In 1955 there were 340 public psychiatric beds available per 100,000 U.S. citizens. By 2005, the number plummeted to a staggering 17 beds per 100,000 persons. Mississippi was found to have the most beds available in 2005 (49.7 per 100,000 people), while Nevada (5.1) and Arizona (5.9) had the least.“The results of this report are dire and the failure to provide care for the most seriously mentally ill individuals is disgraceful,” said lead author, Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, president of the Treatment Advocacy Center. “Our communities are paying a high price for our failure to treat those with severe and persistent mental illness, and those not receiving... Treatment Advocacy Center blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1307786 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:18:00 +0100 1307786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1215264&cid=t_168580_111_f&fid=34834&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMentalNurse%2F%7E3%2F230897649%2F Psychminded reports that mental health minister Ivan Lewis has cast doubt on the value of the soon-to-close Henderson Hospital’s model of treatment. “I have received no advice suggesting that the [Henderson] model is far superior to other clinical interventions for people with personality disorders….I know that there is a debate about the strength of the evidence [...] (Source: Mental Nurse) Mental Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1215264 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:21:51 +0100 1215264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1146556&cid=t_168580_140_f&fid=35465&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychlaws.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fblue-in-baltimore.html This week in Baltimore, the fire department issued a rare “blue alert” – usually seen during only the most severe weather emergencies. It overrides all other directives and allows medics to take patients to the nearest ER regardless of how crowded it is.Why?Across Maryland, beds are full in the ERS – many filled by those in psychiatric crisis.Dr. Jeff Sternlicht, director of emergency services at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center … said that the unusual issuance of a blue alert in Baltimore County is the direct result of a growing problem in Maryland and across the country."There are not enough emergency beds or hospital beds in Maryland right now or nationwide. But the problem is worse in Maryland," he said.Sternlicht admitted the problem is complex.He said that overcrowding ... Treatment Advocacy Center blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1146556 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:29:00 +0100 1146556 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1060089&cid=t_168580_140_f&fid=35465&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychlaws.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Fdeinstitutionalization-that-wasnt.html In the waves of deinstitutionalization of the 1950s and 1960s the number of people with severe mental illnesses in public inpatient psychiatric facilities dropped dramatically.In 1955, 558,239 patients were in public psychiatric hospitals. By themid-1990s, the number had dropped to fewer than 72,000. By 2002, the total had fallen below 50,000.Where did they all go? Too many ended up on our streets, in homeless shelters, in emergency rooms, and in jails and prisons.In Colorado, the director of the department of corrections is requesting nearly $60 million to double the size of a 250- bed correctional facility to house mentally ill inmates.Colorado isn’t alone. In Maine, Governor John Baldacci announced a plan to have the state assume control of all 15 county jails. Some jails, according t... Treatment Advocacy Center blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1060089 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:10:00 +0100 1060089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=659146&cid=t_168580_140_f&fid=35465&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychlaws.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Foverloaded-criminal-justice-system_7253.html A news article in the Eagle Tribune in Massachusetts describes the current situation in the Rockingham County Jail in which an estimated 15 percent of the jail population has a severe mental illness. Jail superintendent Al Wright says it feels like he’s running a psychiatric ward rather than a forensic facility. “I tell people I’m the superintendent of Rockingham County jail, the biggest provider of services for the mentally ill in the county.”The article continues: Also, there is a shortage of psychiatric beds at the state hospital — down from 3,000 beds in the 1960s to 300 today. This leaves police little choice but to transport entally ill suspects to jail. There is no doubt the criminal justice system is overloaded with patients who should have received psychiatric treatment ... Treatment Advocacy Center blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=659146 Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:42:00 +0100 659146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=620682&cid=t_168580_140_f&fid=35465&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychlaws.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fits-time-for-treatment-before-crime.html An op-ed by Jeff Gerritt at the Detroit Free Press calls for treatment rather than incarceration for those with severe mental illnesses who have committed a crime. Before suggesting a solution, Gerritt delves into the sad history of abandoning the mentally ill. As he so explains:A solution is long overdue. When Michigan closed most of its mental hospitals in the 1990s, the mentally ill didn't just disappear. They ended up on the street, in homeless shelters, and, increasingly, in jails and prisons. One sheriff called the state's jails and prisons the new asylums. Today, nearly 25% of Michigan's 51,000 prison inmates are mentally ill.No doubt, putting mentally ill people in a freer, less costly setting was a good idea. But as institutions closed, the state failed to invest in community ment... Treatment Advocacy Center blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=620682 Mon, 14 May 2007 16:44:00 +0100 620682 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=552232&cid=t_168580_140_f&fid=35465&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychlaws.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fclosing-state-hospitals-doesnt.html The use of general hospitals to treat serious mental illnesses increased 34.7% between 1995 and 2002 according to a new study published in Psychiatric services this month. This raises a number of questions, not the least of which is whether psychiatric units in general hospitals are equipped to provide the kind of treatment, rehabilitation and discharge planning that state psychiatric hospitals can provide.Take Virginia for instance. In 2006, the average length of stay for acute admissions to a state psychiatric hospital was 47.2 days compared to 5.4 days in community psychiatric inpatients beds. The abbreviated treatment provided in general hospital psychiatric beds may account for these hospitals’ “revolving doors” through which 3,514 patients passed 3 or more times in 2002 at a co... Treatment Advocacy Center blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=552232 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:07:00 +0100 552232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=552254&cid=t_168580_140_f&fid=35465&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychlaws.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F06%2Fyour-tax-dollars-and-hospital-closures.html "Deinstitutionalization is a thing of the past" – at least that is what most people think. But, in fact, psychiatric hospital closures have proceeded at a furious pace over the last 15 years. There were so few beds when this new assault started that the people who remain in institutions are those who really need intensive care. Some can be “integrated” with sufficient support, but for others, life becomes a living hell once they are “freed.”There are many factors driving the closures, but the most egregious is that the very groups that are paid by the federal government to “protect” the mentally ill, Protection and Advocacy (P&As) are the ones forcing many of the closures. And when the doors are closed, the displaced residents are on their own. In his book Crazy, Pete Earley ... Treatment Advocacy Center blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=552254 Tue, 13 Jun 2006 13:21:00 +0100 552254