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Mental health cuts affect 8,000 patients in Iowa
The Mercy health system announced on Friday that many of the outpatient mental health services currently offered will be discontinued beginning August 29, according to The Des Moines Register.
This change will affect about 8,000 patients -- individuals who are already waiting 10 to 12 weeks ti see a psychiatrist.
According to the article, the chief operating officer of Mercy Clinics says the main reason for the closure is that three of the system's five psychiatrists recently left the company to work elsewhere. Since the company is unable to replace the employees in a timely manner, and does not want services to be "watered down," this was the decision it chose.
Other behavioral health programs in the area are concerned about the amount of patients that will be needing care.
The article states:
Leaders of other agencies said it would be difficult to make up for the loss of Mercy's services. "I don't know who's going to absorb all those clients. This is huge," said Cynthia Steidl Bishop, chief operating officer at Eyerly Ball Community Mental Health Services.
