AURORA — The University of Colorado Hospital announced today it will close its inpatient psychiatric ward in January to make room for patients who have other needs.
The hospital’s outpatient psychiatric services will continue, however. The hospital cited the need for other hospital services, including cancer care, at the the inpatient unit at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.
The 18 beds for psychiatric patients will convert to 22 standard hospital beds, adding up to 300 admissions annually, according to the hospital.
Dr. Greg V. Stiegmann, the hospital’s vice president for clinical affairs, said lack of support by insurers and government for psychiatric services also propelled the issue.
“From a public policy standpoint, there’s very little support for these kinds of services,” he said. “This was not purely an economic decision. In many ways it would have been a much easier decision if it was.”
He said the hospital would be at the forefront of those lobbying for more money and private support for psychiatric hospitals, when that seems possible in state budgets, Stiegmann said.
“The public has to recognize and get behind proposals to keep these kinds of medical and psychological services in their communities,” he said.
The closure leaves Denver Health Medical Center, and Lutheran Medical Center as the primary inpatient psychiatric hospitals for Coloradans. Porter Adventist Hospital and other facilities also have small numbers of beds.
Of the hospital’s approximately 19,000 admitted patients last year, 4 percent — 735 patients — were admitted for psychiatric heeds, according to the hospital.
About 36 employees are affected, but most will transfer to other University jobs, according to the hospital.
Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com
