Medical Malpractice

What do you think of the closing of Mental Hospitals in Pennsylvania?

At least four State run Mental hospitals have closed in Pennsylvania. Harrisburgh being the last one. The announcement in Harrisburgh, Pennsylvania was that the goal was to close all state hospitals and get the patients in the community and not locked up. Evidence indicates the longer patients are kept in a hospital facility the less likely they are to succeed in the community. The cost of running the hospitals is astronomical and most patients care is paid by welfare so financially it is not feasable to continue to run these with taxpayer dollars. How do you feel as a taxpayer? These State run hospitals have more employees than patients.

Public Comments

1. I think I agree with you. Families should take more responsibility. The government will help them financially, and it's a win win for them and the government. The cost of having the patients stay at home is less than the cost of having them at a hospital. And you are correct, the longer you stay in a facility, the less your chances of getting better (proven by research).
2. I think some of these people should be in an instution for their own or other's safety, but I'm not sorry the state hospitals have closed. They were a terrible place to stick a mentally ill person. But, I think they do need help. Since they are so mentally ill that they can't work, they can get SSI or SSD and can be put in a private hospital.
3. The system has changed. People are more integrated into the community these days--as they should be. The cost savings from closing those hospitals can be better used by providing Community based mental health outpatient/residential services.