OSAWATOMIE — The state says conditions for staff and patients at Osawatomie and Larned state hospitals are improving but still need work. Employees at both hospitals testified before a legislative committee and said although the hospitals remain understaffed there are fewer vacancies and staff levels are now above the bare minimum, the Kansas Health Institute News Service reported. The staff vacancy rate at Osawatomie has fallen to about 29 percent, KHI reported. The Kansas Dept. for Aging and Disability Services is working on the staffing and safety issues that resulted in the federal government stripping Medicaid and Medicare funds from the hospital, said KDADS secretary Tim Keck said. The state is also trying to privatize the hospital, which has created opposition from area legislators. KHI reported that the legislative committee issued a series of recommendations, including investigating bullying of hospital staff, a formal relationship between the two hospitals and the Kansas University Medical Center, add at least 20 psychiatric beds, and fully fund mental health crisis centers in Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita.
Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2 p.m.
