Hospital Plans to Cut Psychiatric Staff

Camarillo State Hospital, moving to partially offset an anticipated $2-million budget shortfall, is planning to cut $200,000 in operating costs and save another $300,000 by not hiring 30 new psychiatric technicians, officials said.

The hospital’s $86-million budget is primarily funded by the state Department of Developmental Services and the counties that contract with the hospital, said Myron Dimmett, standards compliance coordinator.

Dimmett said the budget cuts will not affect patient care because counties are requesting fewer beds this year. Last year, the hospital had about 600 clients, compared to about 500 this year.

Most of the cuts will be in maintenance, equipment and other operating costs, Dimmett said. The hospital will also save about $300,000 by not hiring 30 graduates from the psychiatric technician program, he said. The students will be eligible to apply as temporary nurses. No layoffs are planned, he said.

According to Dimmett, the hospital got into financial trouble earlier this year because patients were staying longer than anticipated, but funding from the counties remained at the same level. “Alternative places for patients were not available in the community,” he said. “Our goal is to get our clients ready to go out into the community.”