Hospital officials share behavioral health expansion plans with opioid task force

WASILLA — Mat-Su Regional Medical Center’s CEO Dave Wallace and Jared Kosin, MSRMC director of business development, addressed the Mat-Su Opioid Task Force about the need for a 36-bed expansion for inpatient behavioral health services at the hospital. The two were among a handful of speakers at the task force’s Aug. 1 monthly meeting.

Wallace is on record noting MSRMC submitted an application—a certificate of need to the state to add 36 inpatient behavioral health beds for adult substance abuse and mental health services on June 27. Both men, as well as MSRMC emergency medicine physician Dr. Michael Alter, shared information showing the overwhelming need for the expansion. Kosin said dealing with those persons presenting in the hospital’s emergency room with suspected overdose issues has become very problematic.

“We’re calling it behavior health because it’s not ‘black and white’. We have people in crisis with co-occurring diagnoses, people in crisis,” Kosin said. “Last week, we had nine patients in hold in a 20-bed ER (emergency room).”

Wallace said because those people in crisis present in a possible risky fashion, security is usually required until they are actually admitted for treatment.

“People are like animals with guards watching them” said Wallace. “It’s just not right.”

Kosin said the hospital currently has two “safe” rooms. Those are rooms where someone can be placed with minimal fear that they might be able to hurt themselves or others. Kosin said he gathered some startling statistics concerning their use.

“What blew my mind…in 2012 (they) were full five times,” said Kosin. “In 2016, it happened on 234 separate occasions.”

Kosin then turned to behavioral assessments which are used to look at a patient's history—both medical and psychiatric, symptoms presented, any care they are currently receiving, and any drug or alcohol use. He said in three years ago, the hospital completed 349 such assessments.

“We are on-track this year to reach 1,100,” Kosin said.

He said the Mat-Su’s opioid and methamphetamine problem, combined with the Mat-Su’s steady population growth has combined to create a “perfect storm.” Both he and Wallace said they are drumming up support for the project from as many groups, agencies and the general public as possible. Kosin said this support is even more necessary given the fact that Anchorage’s Alaska Regional Hospital has also put in a 24-bed certificate of need request for a similar project.

Kosin said the state informed MSRMC officials that it will consider both projects together despite MSRMC asking to be kept separate. He said that MSRMC supports Alaska Regional’s project and feels given the population of both communities, both projects are viable. Kosin said the state has set an Aug. 16 public hearing on the requests in Anchorage. He said Mat-Su officials object to the fact that the state will not hold a similar meeting here in the Valley. Kosin he brought support letters and asked those interested to take one and forward to state officials.

Alter stood up and encouraged the idea be taken a step further. He encouraged each person in the room; many who are directly involved with those suffering from opioid and other forms of drug dependency, to take the time to write a personal letter and state their involvement.

“The folks in this room should write down what you do, what you see…make this personal,” Alter said. “Consider putting your heart into this.”

Prior to the meeting’s start, task force chairman Michael Carson said the group’s meeting location will be moved a third time since its inception. The initial gatherings were held at MyHouse. The task force grew to more than the 35-person capacity which forced a move to the Wasilla City Council meeting room at Wasilla City Hall. Over the last year the group’s steady membership increase has outgrown that facility’s occupancy limit of 80.

The group had planned on relocating to Iditarod Elementary but Carson has since found that after-school activities ruled that out. He said Wasilla High School’s theater will be the new venue during the upcoming school year.

Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle said the group’s growth was a good thing. Cottle reckoned it would take 10 times as many people to wrap their arms around the Valley’s opioid problem.

The meeting also included several other speakers. State Department of Corrections’ statewide chaplaincy coordinator Rev. James Duncan shared information on the Valley’s growing faith-based attack on opioid addiction. Christine Gundel, MSRMC family birthing center director made a presentation on perinatal opioid use disorder. Palmer therapeutic courts project coordinator Jessica Clarkson discussed a new Families with Infants and Toddlers (FIT) Court. Karl Soderberg and Kerby Klaus updated the group on upcoming events related to National Recovery Month.

Aug. 25, Soderberg said a recovery summit is on tap at the Glenn Massay Theater. The event is open to the public and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. He said weekly events are also scheduled for September including recovery run-walk, a field day party and a Set Free open house.

Contact reporter Chris Ford at 352-2270 or chris.ford@frontiersman.com