The board of Tri-City Healthcare District in North County will reconsider its decision to close its inpatient psychiatric units. The publicly-elected board will hold an open meeting Tuesday to provide an opportunity for interested parties to provide testimony.
The board’s decision in June to shut down the inpatient behavioral health and psychiatric crisis stabilization units was met with a public outcry. Mental health advocates said Tri-City’s 30 inpatient psychiatric beds made up about one-third of the beds available for those in crisis in North County.
Tri-City spokesman Aaron Byzak said he does not know what options the board will consider.
“The Board of Directors recognized the community concern regarding mental health services and decided that they should provide another opportunity for interested persons to provide testimony," he said. "After considering public comments, and whatever relevant information is brought forward on the units, the board will decide what, if any action to take on the matter.”
Byzak said the health care district faces a dilemma: how to keep the inpatient psychiatric unit open when it runs at a loss, needs expensive upgrades due to new federal regulations and has a shortage of psychiatric staff.
Last month, two San Diego County supervisors called Tri-City’s decision to suspend operations a "failure to the community" and called on the board to reconsider.
Tuesday's board meeting starts at 4:30 p.m. in Oceanside.
