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Fletcher Allen Health Care, with locations in Burlington and Colchester,
plans to expand its inpatient psychiatric care as part of a large-scale
renovation and enhancement of its facilities. The new institution,
named the Renaissance Project, will be a $173.4 million endeavor
that increases all aspects of the health care center.
The inpatient psychiatric component will be built after the center's
major piece, an ambulatory care center that brings together several
medical care needs into one place including a cancer center and
an expanded emergency department.
Colin Parker, Fletcher Allen spokesperson, says that the center
is eager to expand its psychiatric facilities, which currently have
only double beds and tends to often be at capacity. Unlike the ambulatory
care center, which is being built new, the psychiatric facility
will be an expansion and is therefore waiting in the wings. "It's
just a matter of whose turn it is for what gets built next," Parker
says.
The psychiatric unit may have a wait ahead of it of up to a year,
but Parker notes that when it gets built, it will give the center
more room and flexibility. The plan is to add 20,000 square feet
and 28 new beds, with 20 of those being singles. There will also
be some therapeutic space, but the main focus is in increasing bed
capacity. Fletcher Allen has a partnership with the University of
Vermont College of Medicine and is the state's only academic medical
center.
In other hospital news, an on-going debate has been gathering ferocity
over the Vermont State Hospital (VSH) in Waterbury. A recent report
issued by the Boston-based Public Consulting Group recommended options
for replacing the 110-year-old hospital. The report states that
the VSH serves patients whose needs currently could not be met by
another provider in the health care system. Because of this situation,
a new building is recommended.
According to the report, renovations will not be adequate to address
the existing problems. "The age and condition of the building eliminates
renovation as a option to create a quality facility to support the
challenging mission of the hospital," it says.
Legislative reaction to the report was mixed, but the majority
of Vermont legislators praised the recommendation. Shortly before
the report was released, the state's Health Access Oversight Committee
also recommended closing the hospital. At this time, no plans have
been made as to a new location or new facilities for the VSH.
Elizabeth Millard
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