The Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved an agreement with a hospital in Costa Mesa to more than double the county’s capacity to treat urgent mental health cases.
The board voted to approve spending $13.3 million over the next three years with College Hospital to expand crisis stabilization units that treat patients experiencing a psychiatric emergency.
“We definitely need more hospital beds” for mental health patients, board Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett said, adding that “every single bed we add into the system is a good thing.”
Jeffrey Nagel of the Orange County Healthcare Agency told the supervisors that the county lags behind similarly sized counties such as San Diego when it comes to providing services for the mentally ill.
Supervisor Andrew Do issued a statement saying the county has “few places to go when a family member experiences a mental health crisis,” and the crisis stabilization units “provide patients with immediate access to life-saving support and vital mental health services.”
The increased services will help an average of 18 people a day at College Hospital.
Supervisor Michelle Steel said the crisis stabilization units will also help steer more patients away from emergency rooms while providing more appropriate care.