KSHB Channel 41 News ran a series of reports outlining a Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit on Osawatomie State Hospital that highlighted several areas. Former workers saying they feared physical violence while at work, the extreme turnover rates of workers at the hospital, and a worker that said the hospital had instilled a culture of fear.
The Osawatomie State Hospital (OSH) is a state psychiatric facility. Operated on a $59.6 million budget, for two independently operated hospitals on the campus, OSH and Adair Acute Care. 80% of the hospital’s budget is taxpayer funded. District 9 Representative Fred Gardner says he agrees there needs to be some changes:
Kansas Department for Disability and Aging Services, Laura Howard says she didn’t see anything in the audits that suggested Osawatomie State Hospital needed any state statute changes. She says additional funding was requested from the state for more psychiatrists and Governor Kelly and the Legislature approved the funding as well.
