New Plans Announced For Oregon State Hospital

(SALEM) - Governor Ted Kulongoski, Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem) and House Speaker Karen Minnis (R-Wood Village) have announced a proposed restructure of Oregon`s mental health system that includes constructing several new state hospital facilities. The proposal calls for siting one 620-bed facility in the North Willamette Valley region, one 360-bed facility south of Linn County on the west side of the Cascades, and at least two non-hospital-level 16-bed secure residential treatment settings east of the Cascades. The public will be offered opportunities to comment on the proposal during the next several weeks. The proposal is based on information submitted by KMD Architects of San Francisco, the consultant commissioned by the Governor and Legislature to lead the review of the current public mental health system and develop a master plan for redesigning the system. The anticipated cost is between $324 and $334 million. "I am encouraged to have bipartisan support for moving forward vigorously on behalf of the patients, families and staff who already have waited far too long," said Governor Kulongoski. "This proposal isn`t just about constructing new buildings, it`s about improving people`s lives." Governor Kulongoski, President Courtney and Speaker Minnis also outlined a process and timeline for gathering public input into the proposed redesign and determining a final plan: A joint House-Senate legislative committee will conduct a public hearing before July 15 to allow public review and comment on KMD Architects` master plan recommendations; A decision-making group composed of legislative and executive branch representatives will determine site-selection criteria before Sept. 1st. The state Department of Administrative Services will give the Governor and lawmakers a list of suitable sites for consideration by February 2007. Final decisions about the facilities` location, design and financing will be made by the close of the 2007 legislative session, once public input has been received and evaluated, and the Department of Administrative Services has provided an inventory of potential sites. "The architects identified life-threatening conditions in the J Building, yet there still are 100 patients living in the most dangerous section of that complex. We must act quickly to move toward a 21st century mental health system," said Courtney. "Having watched the outcome of the Fairview closure, I want to make sure we learn from the mistakes of the past and review our whole mental health system," said Speaker Minnis. "This is a first step in that process and making sure we provide better mental health care. Considering the serious health and safety issues at the existing State Hospital, it`s critical that we start this process now so the Legislature is ready to debate options next year." KMD Architects have provided two reports to the Governor and Legislature as part of its evaluation and recommendation process. The Phase I Report identified the structural and systemic challenges facing the Oregon State Hospital`s Salem campus and concluded that Oregon should proceed with both the replacement of the hospital facility and a redesign of the entire public mental health system. Building on those findings, the Phase II Report recommended enhancing Oregon`s delivery of mental health care to its citizens at the community level and clarified the role the Oregon State Hospital should play within an improved and enhanced community-based system.