Retreat says it stands ready to take in more patients from state hospital

By MIKE KALIL
Reformer Staff

BRATTLEBORO -- As the Vermont State Hospital seeks to close its doors for good, the Brattleboro Retreat is keeping its doors open for possibly more patients.

The Retreat has already taken eight patients from the state hospital. As of Monday, two were released to family members and one went back to the state hospital, Retreat spokeswoman Maria Basescu said. The patient sent back no longer needed the Retreat's care.

"We are eager to assist the state however we can and these patients however we can," Basescu said.

She said the Retreat is staffed to handle the patients. State hospital patients have also been sent to other Vermont hospitals, like Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington.

Gov. James Douglas wants the state hospital closed as soon as possible, in light of it losing its accreditation and two patient escapes. The governor has asked state officials earlier this year to speed up the closing of the Waterbury hospital.

The number of patients at the state hospital fluctuates, and the hospital is still required to take people referred to it by court order, said Jason Gibbs, the governor's spokesman.

"The process for reducing the census in the state hospital continues to move forward and the governor still expects that the state hospital will be closed as soon as possible," Gibbs said.

The state hospital is trying to decrease its population, but is being cautious while doing so, Basescu said. There are lots of issues, including legal ones, that need to be considered before a patient is transferred, she said.

"They're applying great caution and consideration for the welfare of patients," Basescu said.

The Retreat's population fluctuates, as well. There was one point when the Retreat was unable to accept a state hospital patient because it didn't have enough room; that person was admitted to the Retreat a few days later, Basescu said.

The Retreat, with 422 staff members, specializes in behavioral health care. The campus has an in-patient hospital with three units, one for children and two for adults.

It also has a residential program for children and adolescents, Basescu said. State hospital patients are treated as inpatients, she said, until they are stable enough to be released.

Article Published: Tuesday, March 29, 2005