Grand Junction, Colo.-based West Springs Hospital, a psychiatric facility part of Mind Springs Health, is facing possible closure due to persistent challenges like labor costs, staffing shortages, regulatory scrutiny, financial constraints, and compliance activity cost.
The hospital includes a psychiatric emergency department that opened in the fall of 2022 and is "vital" to the need for behavioral health access in the area that it serves, John Sheehan, CEO of Mind Springs and West Springs Hospital, said in an April 16 statement to the public.
Challenges also include claim denials from the hospital's biggest payer, which have gone from 9% to 20%, making sustainability of operations uncertain.
"We are committed to collaborating with healthcare organizations across the state, government leaders and other psychiatric facilities," Mr. Sheehan said in the statement. "We are currently engaging with community stakeholders and governmental leaders and other agencies for help; parties that would be impacted by a potential closure."
Additional communication will be shared in the coming days as the hospital looks into all options to remain open, Mr. Sheehan said.