Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit no longer admitting patients

PLATTSBURGH — CVPH's Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit closed last week due to a lack of child psychiatrists. "It was a very difficult decision," said Dr. Kent Hall who specializes in emergency medicine at the University of Vermont Health Network — Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. The unit, which contains 12 beds, is designed to help children and adolescents, ages 6 to 18, victim to a crisis severe enough to impact their safety or the safety of others – treating a variety of psychiatric conditions including major depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and more. Now, the unit is no longer able to provide those services since losing their only child psychiatrist in February. The unit contained four children during the time of the closing. Three were discharged. Hall said they're still seeking a proper facility for its 16-year-old, long-term patient who suffers both mentally and behaviorally. A number of staff will stay to oversee and take care of the patient until being moved. As for incoming patients, CVPH reserved space within its emergency department to treat patients in need of psychiatric care but only until an appropriate facility is found for them or until a new child psychiatrist is found. CVPH has been trying to recruit a child psychiatrist since late October to join the unit's team of nurses, mental health technicians, unit clerks, teachers, social workers and one adult psychiatrist. The search, so far, has been difficult. Hall said they're not alone. A number of other cities, such as Ogdensburg and Oswego, have searched for child psychiatrists. Hall said there's a national shortage of child psychiatrists — less than 10,000 practice nationally. While Hall said he's unsure of the exact reason as to why, he believes pay is a factor. Child psychiatry is one of the lowest paid specialties. According to the 2013-2014 Physician Salary Survey, the median starting range for a child psychiatrist is $159,000, while starting salary of an orthopedic surgeon is $469,000. Education and the debt that comes along with it is another factor. After four years of college, students interested in psychiatry education will have to go through four years of medical school, four years in psychiatric residency and two years to subspecialize in child psychiatry. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, 84 percent of the 2014's graduating psychiatry medical school class accumulated a median debt of between $170,000 and $200,000. Each year, that number increases. Hall said despite the factors challenging the increase of child psychiatrists in the future, there's been one promising applicant. Nothing is finalized yet, but if they decided to take the job, it will take approximately three months to receive proper licensing and become credentialed in the hospital. "It's a tough recruitment," he said. "But we're cautiously optimistic." Another challenge currently facing CVPH is finding appropriate facilities for its patients — an ongoing struggle throughout the North Country. Assemblywoman Janet Duprey hosted a forum last month to address current issues facing the developmentally disabled community. The forum, sponsored by state assembly Republicans, focused on the impact of the Olmstead decision on individuals and their families, as well as the deterioration of services due to a lack of state funding. At the forum, the Advocacy and Resource Center in Plattsburgh stated they can no longer provide individuals 24-hour care. Mountain Lake Services in Port Henry stated they're facing a $1.7 million cut. Adirondack ARC in Tupper Lake expressed concern about the rise in hourly wages and losing staffing. Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently signed the minimum wage policy into law. Upstate, rates will gradually increase up to $12.50 in five years before being indexed to $15 per hour depending on the economic climate. Earlier this month, however, Cuomo announced the award of over $6 million to help 122 behavioral health providers that offers children's services to improve or develop their technological infrastructure. Under $500,000 was awarded to nine North Country facilities including Behavioral Health Services North in Plattsburgh, Champlain Valley Family Center in Plattsburgh and Families First in Essex County Mental Health in Elizabethtown. "This administration is committed to providing the best possible healthcare environment for our state's children," Cuomo said in a statement. "As we transform and modernize the behavioral healthcare system, this funding will help providers utilize technology to streamline services and continue to improve the lives of young people across the state."

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Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit no longer admitting patients

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