November 2010

According to a third party investigation, the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo is dangerously understaffed. Key findings from the report include:

• CMHIP is significantly under staffed by as much as 20%. Staffing ratios have decreased considerably over the past few years. This understaffing has contributed to security, clinical and emergency intervention issues.
• Staff morale is low.
• Staff do not feel empowered, interactions are often motivated by fear. “Several staff reported punitive consequences for expressing disagreement with policies, procedures and clinical care.”
• The organizational structure is in disarray, and despite many examples of good patient care, the structure serves as a barrier.
• The authors were ‘consistently impressed with the dedication and compassion exhibited by both CMHIP staff and patients during this review’.

Listen to Colorado Public Radio coverage on this issue here.

Read the full report here.