As West Virginia continues to struggle with a lack of community-based homes for people with disabilities, the operating cost of a state psychiatric hospital is rising.
William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, located in Weston, is estimated to cost $128.7 million this fiscal year ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” up more than $9 million in operating costs from last year. The price includes the hospitalÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Transitional Living Facility.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œSharpe Hospital, like most state psychiatric hospitals, has minimal reimbursement,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ said Gailyn M. Markham, director of communications for the state Department of Health Facilities, which , including two psychiatric facilities.
The department is continuing to develop additional community placements for people with disabilities, she added.
Community placements are much cheaper for the state. And, not every patient needs the level of restrictive care in a psychiatric hospital.
Mike Folio, legal director for , said that over the last eight years, Sharpe had operational financial losses of $671 million in taxpayer money.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe daily institutional cost per patient is roughly $900 per patient [per day],ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Folio said. By contrast, he said, care for a patient in a community setting, like a home with appropriate staff, would be around $300 per day.
Taxpayers are covering the loss, he said, while ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œfear of this populationÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ keeps state leaders from prioritizing putting people with disabilities in community-based settings.
W.Va. official: Many problems continue at Sharpe
The state has the nationÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s , and the number of patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities being held at state psychiatric hospitals over the last decade.
West Virginia Watch has reported on numerous problems at Sharpe Hospital, including patients saying in the acute care facility . There was a involving contract nurses who worked there.
While Gov. Patrick Morrisey of the state health department and Department of Human Services; he opted to keep Sec. Mike Caruso over DHF. by former Gov. Jim Justice.
Folio says transparency has improved at DoHS, but itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s still difficult to get information about how patients are treated at Sharpe.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œMany of the same problems at Sharpe that existed before continue,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Folio said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s still an undercurrent of concealment and retaliation.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Lawmakers recently toured Sharpe in the area, however, the tour was closed to the media ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” a decision made by DHF. Markham said the hospital is closed to the public in an effort to uphold patient safety and minimize disruptions.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe purpose of the recent tour was to educate legislators and allow them the opportunity to understand operating procedures and ask questions while subjecting patients to the least amount of disruption. However, the department remains committed to transparency and offers any media outlet the opportunity to reach out with questions,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ she said.
Delegate Adam Burkhammer, R-Lewis, said he was thankful to have legislators and staff visit the hospital in his district.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe reality is, operating a psych hospital can be both challenging and expensive, and the legislature wants to be sure we understand the complexity of the operations at Sharpe,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ he said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe are ready to assist the hospitalÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s efforts in providing the highest quality of care for its patients.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
68% of SharpeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s staffing are expensive contract workers
Contract workers account for nearly 70% of the hospital staff at Sharpe. Earlier this year, DRWV , saying contract workers had been permitted to harass and abuse patients and employees despite reports of their actions.
Markham said that in the past, contract and state-employed staff at the hospital have been terminated for a number of reasons, including substantiated internal investigations into patient treatment.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe Department of Health Facilities takes patient safety and treatment very seriously,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ she said.
Folio said the state spent $100 million last year on contract workers at Sharpe.
by the LegislatureÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Post Audit Division showed on contract nursing positions at its hospitals.
West Virginia, which has one of the nationÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s lowest workforce participation rates, is struggling to fill full-time nursing jobs, which typically pay less than contract health care jobs.
From fiscal years 2015 to 2023, the total annual expenditure for contract clinical staff increased 955%, the audit found.
A Justice-backed was meant to help hire more in-home staff who could help people with disabilities and others, but Folio said the change didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t always translate into a pay raise for front-line workers. This has contributed to the shortage of community placements.
DHF continues ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œto roll out initiatives to improve vacancy and turnover ratesÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ to attract full-time staff, according to Markham. This year, the department has hired 152 state employees, and 88 of those were at Sharpe. The overall direct care vacancy rate at facilities has dropped 12% since January of last year.
MorriseyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s administration some state-run facilities. Cost is a driver in those conversations.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThe Department of Health Facilities has continued to evaluate strategic options for the health care facilities, including Sharpe Hospital,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Markham said.
