Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital in Berlin has cut four patient beds and laid off three staff, VTDigger reported Aug. 10.
A declining patient census over the last five years led the state’s Department of Mental Health to make reductions, leaving the facility with 21 beds. The employees were recovery services specialists, a support role that is not considered a direct care position. One of the four employees who held that position remains at the hospital.
The hospital’s daily occupancy average was 16 in 2022 and 2023 and climbed to 20 in 2024 and 2025, with four beds closed. Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital is one of six facilities in the state providing inpatient psychiatric care.
The department has nearly 60 empty positions, including 46 at Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital. The hospital’s annual staff turnover rate is nearly 30%, according to the report.
Sen. Andrew Perchlik, D/P-Washington, also asked Mental Health Commissioner Emily Hawes in a July 16 letter to rescind the reductions.
A spokesperson from the Vermont Department of Mental Health told Becker’s:
“Making the decision to cut positions was not something DMH took lightly and was based on the data and needs of Vermonters.
“As the data shows (see FY Census Table below), for the past 5 years the census at VPCH was never more than 21. This data clearly showed that the system’s need for the highest acuity beds was being met through this census. During this time, VPCH continued to staff a 25-bed model which meant an empty unit with an associated impact on ancillary departments like Recovery Services.
“The goal was to eliminate vacant positions whenever possible and focus on positions assigned to the unoccupied unit. Direct care nursing positions and certain administrative positions are unique in that they support the continuous 24/7 delivery of patient care, are driven by regulatory and licensing requirements, are dictated by the clinical workload and acuity of the individuals we serve. Such positions were not included in the reduction. The Recovery Services positions are not considered direct care positions nor are they required per regulations (CMS Conditions of Participation and Joint Commission).
“VPCH is currently staffed in a manner that meets or exceeds all state and federal staffing requirements and best utilizes the resources available to the Agency of Human Services as a whole.
“Closed beds refers to unoccupied beds, not beds taken offline.”
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