The Utah State Hospital will require a significant increase in adult patient beds to meet future demand, according to a report published August 17. The report, submitted by Superintendent Dallas Earnshaw to the Utah Behavioral Health Commission, notes that projections based on population growth and forensic needs indicate a growing requirement for mental health resources in Utah.
The Utah State Hospital currently maintains a total of 378 beds, including 72 pediatric beds and 306 adult beds. The adult beds are divided between 152 civil patient beds and 154 forensic patient beds. While the pediatric unit is considered adequate for the foreseeable future, the hospital expects a rising need for adult capacity.
Projections suggest the hospital will need an additional 18 to 30 beds by 2028, 20 to 33 beds by 2030, and 26 to 41 beds by 2035. The report states that the estimated need for forensic beds is substantially higher than for adult civil beds. One driver for this increase is a steady rise in court referrals for forensic competency treatment, which has seen a 255% increase in referrals since 2011.
The report also identifies compensation challenges for various hospital roles. While medical doctors and psychologists are compensated competitively, many other essential positions lag behind market medians.
Registered Nurses are reported to be compensated at a rate 12.2% below the market, while Senior Registered Nurses face a 6.2% deficit. Licensed Practical Nurses are paid 9.1% less than the market rate. Other roles identified with compensation gaps include psychiatric technicians, campus police, and various administrative and support staff.
To address these needs, the report recommends considering a proposal for a 30-to-60-bed low acuity treatment unit. The hospital also suggests improving processes to discharge patients back into the community and expanding in-community residential services to help increase hospital discharge efficiencies.
