Layoffs create new concerns for health providers

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Reporter - Todd Faulkner
Photojournalist - Jason Thomason

Story Created: Thu Nov 1, 2012 6:17 PM

Story Updated: Thu Nov 1, 2012 6:28 PM

MURRAY, Ky. - A local hospital's decision to shut down one unit has sent other health care providers scrambling. 

There are questions, headaches and lots of concern for dozens of health care administrators in the Local 6 region. 
 
This comes after a major decision by Murray-Calloway County Hospital Local 6 was first to report on Wednesday. 
 
Murray-Calloway County Hospital's decision to close its Geriatric Behavioral Unit won't just impact the 25 employees losing their jobs.  The decision also hurts seniors who rely on that kind of specialized care, many who are referred there by local long-term care facilities like Green Acres in Mayfield. 
 
"Wow.  What's going to happen now," Terri Humes questioned aloud.  She serves of Administrator of Green Acres.  
 
"Prior to (the special unit) opening it was just almost impossible to get someone in in-patient for treatment and it's going to make our jobs that much harder in trying to service the mental health needs of our residents," Humes added. 
 
She said getting patients that kind of special attention and care it's easy and fears she may have to turn some patients away. 
 
"It's going to make it difficult for us to care for that resident. I mean, we have to be able to care for the entire resident and if we can't do that we may not be able to take the resident." 
 
For an area that has a need for mental health services, especially for the geriatric population, Humes and others said this recent development is saddening.
 
"To see that need being met and then now see it going to disappear its really kind of disheartening, it's really an under serviced area," Humes said.  
 
An area that will soon have one less place for patients to rely on.